Christchurch to host 2024 Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Congress

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) has chosen Christchurch as the location for its annual scientific congress.

To be held in May 2024 at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, the congress will welcome over 1,500 delegates, including 1,300 international visitors. The Congress is the largest meeting of surgeons and allied health professionals in the Southern Hemisphere.

Delegates in front of Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre

The congress will include a five-day scientific programme with 1,000 presentations, a 2,000m2 exhibition, 10 official dinners, and six pre-event workshops. Attendees will include 70 international speakers, and 60 international Surgical College presidents. A mini-conference for younger fellows will take place concurrently outside of the city at one of Canterbury’s alpine retreat destinations.

ChristchurchNZ Business Events successfully bid for the congress with support from Tourism New Zealand Business Events.

ChristchurchNZ chief executive, Alison Adams, said in a press release said the conference will help fill the central city and the wider region for up to two weeks during the off-peak visitor season, delivering millions of dollars to the local economy.

“Many delegates are expected to be accompanied by their partners and family, and we are providing suggested touring itineraries to encourage delegates to travel after the conference.

“The benefits of academic conferences such as RACS are far-reaching and go beyond economic impact. Not only are they valuable contributors to growing the region’s knowledge base, but they are also an opportunity to showcase our beautiful region to an international audience and reinforce our position as a superb city to hold conferences,” Adams added.