
Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA) showcase at the Africa’s Travel Indaba 2023 is turning out to be a big boost for the golden province’s Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in the tourism sector value-chain. Destination Gauteng has this year taken 48 SMMEs to this premiere Africa’s travel, tourism, and hospitality trade show with majority of them representing the province’s townships, tourism hubs and signature attractions and experiences.
ATI is a platform for tourism trade sales, marketing, connections and shared experiences and learnings. Over 1200 buyers from major source markets buying South Africa and African travel packages are here interacting with more than 1800 exhibitors, industry experts, travel media, governments and policy makers and the current projected forward booking deals done to-date have exceeded R56million and benefiting small businesses.
I’m excited that the Gauteng team and showcase here at ATI is heavily dominated by SMMEs.
and geographic representation of the province’s 5 regions, signature experiences and niche products championing our course to reach pre-covid tourism arrivals, trips, and revenue numbers, explained Gauteng MEC for Economic Development Tasneem Motara.
Ms. Dineo Setsetse, Soweto Hotel General Manager is amongst the many women-led and township-based enterprises and SMMEs upselling Gauteng at the ATI. Receiving MEC Motara during her visit to the Gauteng pavilion, the highly elated GM explained “just in two days of trading we have already secured booking deals of more than R500 000 while many more are still coming as I’m speaking to you now. Tourism recovery is in full swing and there is no turning back.”
GTA as the province’s official destination marketing agency is this year focusing on selling amongst other’s Gauteng’s Luxury Packages (Sky-diving, hot air ballooning, high-end personal shopping experiences, high-end adventure, glamping), mainstay signature events like the forthcoming Nedbank Cup Finals, Dstv Delicious Food & Music Festival, Soweto Marathon, Joy of Jazz, World Rowing Masters Regatta, BRICS Summit and various Polo and Equestrian lifestyle events that are synonymous with the golden city region.
Township tourism promotion, attention to visitors and residents’ safety, improving the destination’s competitiveness, enhanced visitor experience through digital interface and artificial intelligence and restoration and maintenance of some of our heritage sites, museums and nature reserves are some of the key work Gauteng is undertaking to build a robust and resilient sector, emphasized GTA CEO Sthembiso Dlamini.
Africa’s Travel Indaba ends today (11th May 2023) on the backdrop of the more than favorable January – March 2023 tourism performance figures and statistics. These statistics and performance once again reaffirms Gauteng’s leading position as the country’s premier destination for locals and international tourists and must-use venue for quality business and sports entertainment events. We are happy to remain in pole position and continue to work hard to build a developmental visitor economy that creates jobs and builds sustainable livelihoods.