South African Tourism wants to convert the country's strong ratings for food and hospitality into more real visitors. The Gastronomy Africa Conference and Expo is built for that job, putting South African cooking and its cultural heritage in front of the trade. Township food experiences and local markets sit in the program alongside contemporary African cuisine aimed at international tastes. Food tourism has become a serious earner for destinations that organize it properly, and South Africa has plenty of material to work with. A conference of this kind gives producers and travel buyers a place to meet rather than relying on brochures alone. The country already scores well with visitors on its restaurants and service, and officials want those numbers turned into bookings. The bet is that food, from township kitchens to the wine lands, can pull tourists beyond the usual safari circuit.