Linking investments and tourism – team Joburg heads to Berlin

Joburg Tourism is at it again; in an effort to promote tourism investment opportunities in Johannesburg, MMC Ruby Mathang, member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Development, is leading a delegation where Joburg will be participating in the 16th International Hotel Investment Forum from March 4-6 in Berlin, Germany.

“As the city’s leadership, we recognize that tourism is a significant economic growth imperative and an important catalyst for building a vibrant city. We also appreciate our role to create an enabling and supportive environment in which the private sector can thrive and feel confident to invest in the tourism sector and create new and much-needed jobs,” said Mathang. “The city of Johannesburg’s leadership is, therefore, committed to offering a favorable climate for investors, creating opportunities and offering incentives that will make this city an attractive destination for them.”

Following on from the International Hotel Investment Forum, the Joburg Tourism team will then be participating in the annual ITB, one of the world’s leading travel trade shows, which will be taking place in Berlin from March 7-9.

Joburg Tourism’s participation in international trade shows forms part of its strategy to maintain and increase Johannesburg’s market share in both the business and leisure travel arenas. “As ITB is one of the largest global platforms for the leisure travel market, we will once again be presenting Joburg’s position as a vibrant, cosmopolitan, all-year-round destination for business, leisure, and lifestyle, using the opportunity to launch our Autumn Campaign, entitled “Explore Experience Enjoy Joburg this Autumn,” said Phelisa Mangcu, Acting CEO, Johannesburg Tourism.

EXPLORE, EXPERIENCE, ENJOY JOBURG THIS AUTUMN!

With the Easter break and school holidays to look forward to, autumn in Joburg is ideal for enjoying the fine, mellow weather and indulging in family outings and activities. Plenty of sports and cultural festivals, along with an ever-growing host of attractions and activities are on offer for everyone to experience and enjoy.

Two of South Africa’s most high-profile fashion events – AFI Mercedes Benz Joburg Fashion Week and SA Fashion Week – will be taking Joburg fashionistas by storm in March and April. The long-running annual Rand Easter Show will once again be taking place in April, an iconic city event always guaranteed to entertain the whole family.

As Africa’s most exciting city, it makes sense that Joburg is also a mecca for entertainment by international artists, as the line-up of forthcoming superstars illustrates. Headline performances during March, April, and May include R Kelly, Miguel, Baby Face, Bon Jovi, and Justin Bieber. Theatregoers are also spoiled for choice with a variety of local legends (think Hugh Masakela), artists, comedians, and productions on offer alongside fabulous internationally-acclaimed shows like Jersey Boys, Essence of Ireland, and Don Quixote (the ballet).

If public expos, summits, exhibitions, and concerts aren’t for you, why not opt to experience Joburg as never before, from the decks of our latest tourist attraction, the shiny bright red Hop On, Hop Off Buses? City Sightseeing, the brand that operates the iconic open-top red double-decker buses on six continents and in over 100 cities in the world, was officially welcomed to Johannesburg this year – a fabulous service offering locals and visitors the chance to explore this vibrant city, visiting the many attractions on offer, and sampling the cultural melting pot that is Jozi.

The tour runs along a fascinating route through the Johannesburg CBD that stops at Gandhi Square, the Roof of Africa at the Carlton Centre, the James Hall Transport Museum, the Apartheid Museum and Gold Reef City, the Mining District, the World of Beer, the Carlton Centre, Santarama Miniland, Newtown Precinct, the Origins Centre, Wits Campus, Braamfontein, and Constitution Hill. For more details, visit www.citysightseeing.co.za .

Explore, Experience and Enjoy Joburg, where there’s always something to get excited about!

DESTINATION JOBURG – FOR VIABLE INVESMENT OPPORTUNITIES

A delegation from the city’s Department of Economic Development will be traveling to Berlin to participate in the Hotel International Investment Forum, taking place from March 4-6.

This will also be utilized as an opportunity to promote the department’s inaugural Buy Sell Invest Visit Conference and Expo set to take place in May 2013. Part of the city’s Buy Sell Invest and Visit initiative, this flagship program aims to bring together people from the BRICS and Southern African Development Community blocs to partner with private and public organizations.

This program is part of the city’s 2040 strategy, which outlines the growth of Johannesburg over the next 3 decades into a sustainable, prosperous, and resilient place to live and work. It aims to not only attract new investment into the city, but support existing businesses and help them to expand.

Envisaged as an annual calendar event, this 3-day conference is targeted at 1,000 prominent local, provincial, national, and international business stakeholders. Its purpose is to attract investment, seek markets for the city’s products, and maintain top-of-mind awareness of Joburg as a tourist destination, while showcasing its infrastructure capabilities.

Dates for this series of Johannesburg conferences are as follows:

– Infrastructure and alternative funding model (May 7-9, 2013);

– Financial and business services (June 4-6, 2013); and

– Resource based and manufacturing (July 2-4, 2013).

In terms of Johannesburg’s Growth and Development Strategy (GDS) – 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.

In this context, the city’s leadership remains focused on positioning Joburg not only as the continent’s leading business hub and vibrant all-year-round leisure and lifestyle destination, but also as offering plenty of opportunities as a base for viable tourism investments.

The Lanseria precinct and Midrand Business District are just two of the key tourism investment areas which have been identified for this purpose and significant projects include the development of:

– world-class accommodation facilities;

– state-of-the-art meeting venues; and

– professional hospitality services encompassing transport, training, amenities, suppliers, entertainment, gambling, and cuisine.

For more information on investment and development opportunities in Joburg, contact the city’s Economic Development team via email: [email protected] .

Johannesburg, represented by the Johannesburg Tourism Company, is a founding member and academy member of the International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP), a grassroots travel and tourism coalition of global destinations committed to quality service and green growth.