Joburg looks forward to hosting Africa’s finest polo players this weekend

“The Africa Cup Polo taking place at the Inanda Club from July 20-22 is a prime example of one of the most glamorous events on the Joburg’s social and sporting calendar – giving us a prime opportunity to showcase the city’s abundant leisure and lifestyle attributes,” said Phelisa Mangcu, Acting CEO of Johannesburg Tourism.

Polo is included in Joburg Tourism’s seasonal campaign – “Joburg is Hot This Winter!” – promoting signature Joburg events and recreational activities. “Fun, fashion, food, stylish lifestyle, and leisure – not forgetting sports and entertainment – Joburg has it all,” said Mangcu, “Seasonal campaigns are part of Joburg Tourism’s marketing strategy to entrench Joburg as a global, year-round business and leisure destination, brimming with special events, attractions, tastes, sights, and sounds to encourage visitors to stay longer, spend more, and enjoy exploring further afield.”

Joburg’s amazing calendar of diverse signature events throughout the year provide an ideal platform for DMCs and incentive houses to package offerings to leisure travelers from around the globe. Joburg signature events throughout the year range from the Joburg Open Golf Tournament in January, the Joburg Fashion Week in March, the Africa Cup Polo in July, and Joy of Jazz in August – to Arts Alive, the Joburg Shopping Festival, and Taste of Joburg in October, to the Africa Fashion Week, and the Sansui Summer Cup in November.

ENSURING THE SPREAD OF TOURISTS THROUGHOUT DESTINATION JOBURG

“While we work at entrenching Joburg’s position as Africa’s leading business tourism destination, the team at Joburg Tourism balances this with an ongoing focus ensuring the spread of tourists throughout the city and the presentation and packaging of leisure offerings to the consumer market,” said Mangcu.

“Although Joburg is such a youthful city, having celebrated its 125th anniversary only last year, it is a treasure trove of economic, social, political, and anthropological history. The city boasts layer upon layer of fascinating history, development, and human interest stories – of course not forgetting the leisure and lifestyle aspects of entertainment, sports, music, arts, and culture. At Joburg Tourism, we work with both the public and the private sector to publicize the development of city precincts, nodes, sites, attractions, and products, which are of interest to both locals and visitors.”

Three recent additions to routes and itineraries promoted by Joburg Tourism include Joburg’s Nature Route (taking in sites of natural beauty and anthropological relevance in the city), the Indian Route (comprising a history of the Indian community in Joburg, with a focus on Mahatma Ghandi, who lived in Joburg from 1903 to 1914) and the Adventure Route (including some of the high octane spills and thrills on offer in Jozi).

Urban tourism is coming into its own in Johannesburg, with the city seeing an increasing number of visitors keen to explore diverse aspects of the city – from all the exciting developments downtown to the heritage routes and sites in Alex and Soweto. This includes the rejuvenation of entire districts or precincts, along with the development of public street art, pedestrianized zones, heritage sites, and lifestyle activities like the Neighborgoods Market in Braamfontein and the Sunday market at Arts on Main.

JOBURG TOURISM’S BOOKING PORTAL

Joburg’s legendary shopping, dining, entertainment, and nightlife is complimented by fabulous weather, as well as an astonishing array of facilities like spectacular golf courses, gyms, spa’s and wellness centers, which all add to its appeal as a destination.

From a lifestyle and leisure perspective, Joburg Tourism continuously creates a diversity of packages and options around the city’s calendar of signature events and activities. Aside from the live events feed and gig guide on its website ( www.joburgtourism.com ), a relatively new channel in the marketing process is Joburg Tourism’s booking portal ( http://travel.joburgtourism.com ). Joburg Tourism has partnered with a host of event organizers, hotels, and tour operators to promote signature Joburg seasonal events – enhancing them with special packages and offers.

“This is a convenient, cost-effective ‘one-stop shop,’ giving travelers the means to take advantage of special offers and packages, while making all their travel reservations for Johannesburg online – from flights, car hire, and accommodation to tour and events packages,” said Mangcu, “As one of the continent’s most accessible and major entry points, its incumbent upon JTC to assist travelers in planning entire trip to South Africa – while showcasing all there is to do while spending time in Joburg.”

JOBURG’S GDS 2040

“In terms of Johannesburg’s Growth and Development Strategy (GDS) – the Joburg 2040 ( www.joburg.org.za/gds2040 ) – tourism remains an economic growth imperative on the city’s agenda. It is an important catalyst to encourage the development of the SMME sector in order to stimulate the growth and development of a vibrant second economy. It is Johannesburg Tourism’s mission to attract visitors to Joburg, encourage them to stay longer, spend more, improve seasonality patterns and the spread of visitors across the city.”

In line with these developments and as part of the institutional review process to effect closer alignment with city goals, this year Joburg Tourism is being incorporated into the city’s Communication & Tourism Group. The GDS is coupled to the city’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and both are aligned with the National Planning Commission’s New Growth Path.

“Our ongoing local and international promotional campaigns include exhibiting at business and leisure trade exhibitions where JTC shares its plans to maintain, defend, and grow its market share,” said Mangcu, “As the city of Johannesburg’s destination marketing arm, Joburg Tourism remains focused on positioning Joburg, not only as the continent’s leading business hub, but also as an exciting, vibrant year-round destination for signature events, lifestyle, the arts, culture, fashion, sports – and of course, mega-events.”

For more information, go to http://travel.joburgtourism.com or email: [email protected] .