14-02-2014: Joburg Tourism Proud Host of Meetings Africa
RECENT WINS & IMPRESSIVE STATISTICS - JOBURG CONVENTION BUREAU MAKES ITS MARK AHEAD OF MEETINGS AFRICA 2014
With Meetings Africa 2014 fast approaching, it's all systems go for the Joburg Convention Bureau team, who are looking to make the most of an even bigger and better event in 2014, focused on attracting more business events to the City and to further enhance its position as the continent's premier destination for business and business events.
Joburg Convention Bureau's winning streak of successful bids continues unabated, as the city continues to make its mark as Africa's premier business, meetings and events destination. The ever-increasing line-up of high profile international events won for Joburg include:
• World Orchid Congress & Exhibition (2014)
• Africities Summit (2015)
• CIDESCO World Congress (2015)
• IPRA World Congress (2015)
• The Summit on Healthy Ageing (2015)
Recent highlights for destination Joburg include:
• A vastly improved position in its ICCA ranking - jumping 92 places to be ranked at 142nd in the world and placed third in Africa. ICCA Rankings are announced annually by the International Congress and Convention Association, based on the number of rotating international association meetings hosted in a particular destination. ICCA now is one of the most prominent organisations in the world of international meetings.
• According to the third annual MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index released in June 2013, Johannesburg is set to be the most popular destination in Africa, with a projected 2.54 million international visitors expected to visit the city in 2013.
o Despite a marginal 5.5% increase in the number of international visitors from 2012, Johannesburg's substantial 53.6% growth in international visitors from 2009 to 2013 has propelled it into the Index's top 20 fastest growing cities globally.
o Johannesburg also comes out tops in Africa in terms of international visitor spending, with US$2.7 billion estimated to be injected into the city during 2013, a slight increase (1%) on 2012's expenditure.
• As the tourism arrival figures for 2013 released by the National Department of Tourism indicate, South Africa continues to enjoy an above average growth rate (10.2% as opposed to the global average of 4%) and Johannesburg is certainly benefiting from this. Visitor arrivals continue increasing year on year and the City's leadership remains committed to enabling and facilitating ongoing growth and development in this sector.
• Joburg boasts impressive business events credentials in anyone's book. Aside from all the major international business and sporting events hosted here since the mid-90's, Joburg is home to an abundance of superb convention facilities, all supported by a well established and growing service sector and impressive infrastructure. This includes the Gautrain, Rea Vaya and of course, OR Tambo International Airport, which is the country's travel hub. Over 55 international airlines link Johannesburg to major centers worldwide, making it one of the easiest to access on the African continent.
• The City of Johannesburg can comfortably host any event - from small professional meetings to mega events. There are approximately 130 venues in Johannesburg, varying in capacity, including the four biggest which are capable of accommodating over 5000 delegates. Moreover, we have the accommodation stock to match – from ultra deluxe hotels to b&b's. We can do it all!
• With excellent infrastructure, unique transport features (like the high speed Gautrain and the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit system), increased hotel inventory, spectacular stadiums and magnificent architecture, we're very proud that Johannesburg was voted the world's 3rd best city in UK-based Wallpaper Magazine's Wallpaper Design Awards in early 2011.
• Johannesburg is increasingly being perceived in the global community as a destination of choice for investment, commerce and tourism. An international survey of perceptions about the world's 50 premier cities shows a significant improvement in perceptions about the City.
o The 2013 Anholt-GfK Roper City Brand Index is now ranking Johannesburg in 44th position, from a 45th ranking. However, the City has shown the second biggest improvement in perceptions among the 5 000 people in 10 developed and developing countries who participated in the survey.
o Simon Anholt from Anholt-GfK Roper observes that Johannesburg may be moving away from the perception that it is violent and dangerous: "It now seems as if Johannesburg might be moving out of this reputational territory."
JOBURG HOSTING THE WORLD
Joburg's glittering track record for hosting significant global gatherings has continued to gain steady momentum, with a host of important international events taking place here over the past year, firmly cementing Johannesburg as Africa's leading city in stature.
During 2013 the City witnessed an influx of high profile visitors connected with numerous events – from the presidents, global leaders and royalty paying their respects after the passing Nelson Madiba in , beloved global icon and Freeman of the City – to some 500 delegates from more than 40 countries around the world, who attended the four-day Metropolis Annual Meeting in July, themed "Caring Cities" and focused on investigating methods and ways in which cities can become more responsive to increasing challenges facing them.
During the conference, delegates examined new new and innovative ways of improving the quality of life of residents, accessing opportunities and easing the plight of the vulnerable while sustaining high levels of production and service delivery. The City of Johannesburg, used the opportunity to build a network of initiatives with other metropolitan governments and their collaborating partners, to promote urban sustainability as well as environmental, economic, social and cultural projects.
Another international highlight on Joburg's calendar was the high profile One Young World Summit in October, which saw 1500 the world's youthful leaders sharing the stage with inspiring luminaries like former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, activitist and musicisian Bob Geldhof and Muhammad Yunus, founder, Grameen Bank and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
Earlier this month, from 4 – 6 February 2014, - Mayors and top officials from more than 44 cities will join global leaders in Johannesburg for the fifth biennial C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group Mayors Summit to, discuss their measurable action and future opportunity for action in the fight to address climate change and climate risks.
EXPLORE, EXPERIENCE & ENJOY JOBURG – IT'S AMAZING
In its bid to leverage as much leisure tourism from both business visitors and locals alike, Joburg Tourism launched its "Explore, Experience & Enjoy Joburg" destination marketing campaign, in partnership with KayaFM, with industry partners and stakeholders in October.
The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness and drive business for sites, attractions and tourism product owners across the board - not just large operators and companies, but for small and emerging establishments as well. The promotion features bi-monthly outside broadcasts, weekly interviews on business and lifestyle shows on KayaFM, as well as a real-time, interactive online Jozi Guide at www.joburgtourism.com and www.kayafm.co.za.
Research conducted by Joburg Tourism into the industry earlier identified a call for more assistance from the industry to effectively promote tourism products and services, in an effort to maintain and grow further the market share for all players involved.
"As the City, we have heeded that call and the launch of the Explore, Experience & Enjoy Joburg campaign is one of the ways in which we're responding to the need for more marketing – getting into people's homes, hearts and minds – in order to increase the footprint of the tourism sector," says Ruby Mathang, MMC for the City's Department of Economic Development.
"We're working very closely with our private sector partners in an effort to build awareness of our diverse range of tourism products in Joburg, while also increasing demand for them. The campaign features an online platform and outdoor element. The online element is the Jozi Guide, which will for the first time present the City with an opportunity to market the tourism partners from a single point," explains Mathang.
The Jozi Guide is an interactive, dynamic map which reflects real time events, establishments, transport and transport timetables and many other features. This will be updated on a daily basis and tourism partners are encouraged to submit their events and initiatives for uploading onto the guide to joziguide@joburgtourism.com and joziguide@kayafm.co.za.
The advantage of being included in the Guide is that individual establishments will be promoted extensively on Kaya FM, which has over one million listeners daily. The Jozi Guide provides real time updates regarding shows and exhibitions, as well as directions, traffic and transport tips.
"Johannesburg 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.
This is a city with a colourful past and a future filled with excitement, potential and promise," says Clr Mathang.
"Guided by economic development objectives of the GDS Joburg 2040 - it's mission of the City's leadership to continue positioning Johannesburg as one of the world's leading cities: an all year round destination, a leading business and business events destination, and a vibrant, cosmopolitan centre for lifestyle, leisure, heritage, the arts, culture, entertainment, sports and mega-events.
We continue our efforts to create an enabling environment for the tourism sector, which includes a focus on SMMEs, assisting them with training, service enhancement to gain accreditation and creating business linkages where possible," he concludes.
Ends
Released by: Laura Vercueil : PR & Communication Manager
Johannesburg Tourism Company
