Spring comes to town

Joburg is going all-out to lure tourists, launching a spring campaign that shows the city in all its glorious colours. Loads of festivals add to the fun.
COLOURFUL dresses, wind and loads of prize giveaways marked the official launch of Live It Up in Joburg This Spring, the new season campaign from the Johannesburg Tourism Company (JTC).

JTC CEO Lindiwe Kwele JTC CEO Lindiwe Kwele The wind was somewhat unkind to ladies’ frocks and hair, but all was forgiven and forgotten when the first prize of the day was given away. Prizes varied from hampers and decoders, to hotel stays and meals vouchers.

The campaign, which seeks to market Joburg as a tourist destination of choice, was launched by the JTC’s chief executive officer, Lindiwe Kwele, at the Sandton Sun Hotel on Thursday, 15 September.

Kwele explained that Joburg was one of the continent’s leading business tourism destinations. But stakeholders were looking at turning that around by beefing up the packaging and presentation of leisure offerings to the consumer market.

In the campaign, emphasis is placed on all the exciting activities and events in the city of gold. In the month of September, as the country and the city celebrate heritage and tourism month, there are a number of happenings in Joburg aimed at attracting local and international tourists.

These include the month-long Arts Alive festival, a feast of arts taking place in various venues across the city; the Joburg Shopping Festival, with a host of malls and hotels on board; and the South African Fashion Week, which takes place later in the month.

Booking portal
JTC also used the day to introduce an online booking portal that is expected to be “a convenient, cost-effective one-stop-shop” for travellers. It offers special prices and discounts for flights, car hire, accommodation, and tour and events packages.

“As one of the continents’ most accessible and major entry points, it’s incumbent upon the JTC to assist travellers in planning their entire trip to South Africa – while showcasing all there is to do while spending time in Jozi on stopovers,” Kwele explained.

For more information, visit the portal or send an email to travel@joburgtourism.com.

Anavarata Dance Institute are on the Arts Alive Festival programmeAnavarata Dance Institute are on the Arts Alive Festival programmeThe company also launched its Jozi Pass for the month of September. The pass is a ticket voucher that allows partners to advertise their products on the JTC website.

Its aim is to help build awareness of the great value that Joburg has to offer. It is also another way of generating more clientele and increased spending for the tourism company’s partners.

Tourism
Since 1994, tourism has been a significant contributor to job creation and the country’s gross domestic product. According to SouthAfrica.info, tourism constitutes about 7 percent of employment in South Africa.

The country has over 1 000 conferences and exhibition venues, ranging from intimate bush hideaways to large-scale, hi-tech convention centres. These venues offer a wealth of leisure activities, side tours and events varying from walking with elephants to first-hand experiences of African culture to luxury shopping and relaxation.

It also has a wealth of cultures, with its main tribes including the Zulus, who resisted European conquest; the Pedis, who are famous for their rain queen; the colourful Vendas and Tsongas; and the Batswanas and Sothos.