Johannesburg Tourism will be in full swing at Indaba 2019, not only amplifying its #Welcome2Jozi domestic tourism awareness campaign, but also promoting Joburg signature events for packaging by tour intermediaries, meeting with strategic partners (including SAA, Tsogo Sun and Thompsons Africa) to discuss collaborations – and activating and promoting its recently launched Mobi App and revamped www.visit.joburg website.
The City’s destination marketing organisation will be exhibiting at Indaba from 2 – 6 May 2019.
INDABA is one of the largest tourism marketing events on the African calendar and one of the top three ‘must visit’ events of its kind on the global calendar. It showcases the widest variety of Southern Africa's best tourism products, and attracts international buyers and media from across the world.
“Joburg Tourism’s priority will not only be to expand upon the leisure and lifestyle appeal and activities which the City offers, but also to ensure that the trade understands that Joburg is so much more than just a business destination, or stop-over en route to other exotic locations,” says Cllr Leah Knott, MMC for the City’s Department of Economic Development.
“We aim to create top of mind awareness of Joburg offerings as an all year round sports, shopping, fashion, lifestyle, mega events, heritage, arts and culture destination of choice in Africa.”
Joburg Tourism’s Mobi App
One of Joburg Tourism’s core mandates is to provide online tourism information, along with online SMME and association support. In order to embrace international technological travel trends and remain competitive in the digital sphere, Joburg Tourism has developed and launched a mobile app, while also redeveloping its website to be more user friendly, appealing and to render it mobi-friendly (www.visit.joburg).
The key difference between the website/mobi-site and the mobi app is that the website/mobi is not location based, has more information including news articles, general information about Joburg, business registration opportunities and an interactive regional map.
The Mobi App is downloadable and installed as a mobile application and only contains essential listing and location information that a traveller will use whilst travelling. It offers the following functionality:
• Downloadable from Play Store and IPhone
• Interactive with smartphone devices
• Location based product listings (location settings need to be switched on)
• Distance to various product listings
• Provides nearest places of interest
• Personalized trip and itinerary planner (Login required)
• Add to favourites
• Events feed which alerts visitor of new events
• Ability to share listings via various channels e.g. WhatsApp, Social Media, Email, Pinterest etc.
• Rate an establishment
• Write reviews
• Google Map view which opens up Google GPS to navigate to product listing
• Call establishment directly (Dials directly from device)
• View travel packages
Signature Joburg Events
Joburg Tourism will also be utilising Indaba to promote two of the City’s most important forthcoming annual signature events, the Joy of Jazz and Afropunk.
The 22nd edition of South Africa’s not to be missed Jazz Festival - Standard Bank Joy of Jazz, is set to premier with a remarkable big band performance on 26 September 2019, at the Sandton Convention Centre. http://www.joyofjazz.co.za/home.
“Events are one of the biggest contributors to the tourism sector, particularly in Joburg, attracting people from all over the country and the continent to our City,” says Cllr Knott.
Many events that take place in the City have grown over the years and have contributed and boosted the local economy significantly. These events are a major draw card on the City’s social and tourism calendar and give Joburg an opportunity to showcase its wide range of offerings.
Events such as the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz, Gauteng Summer Cup, Eid Shopping Festival, Land Rover Africa Polo Cup, Soweto Wine Festival, FNB Joburg Art Fair, to mention but a few, attract both local and international visitors, significantly boosting revenue throughout the tourism value chain and creating employment opportunities in so doing.
Joburg boasts an extraordinary array of arts and cultural festivals, exhibitions, expos, trade fairs and the many great sports events that take place at our world-class stadiums. These include test cricket at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium, Currie Cup rugby at Ellis Park Stadium, and soccer at FNB Stadium, which also plays host to major entertainment events and concerts by local and international music stars.
When compared with other global cities, Joburg is one of the most affordable to visit for both domestic and international visitors, whether it’s paying for transport and accommodation, entry into the city’s many tourist attractions, shopping, or enjoying its superb restaurants, nightlife and cultural attractions.
ends
Released by Laura Vercueil
PR & Communication Manager
Johannesburg Tourism
Department of Economic Development
Tel: +27 11 883 3527
Email: laurav@joburgtourism.com
Johannesburg Tourism is a destination marketing organisation, dedicated to promoting tourism growth in the City. Its primary function is to promote Johannesburg as a business, lifestyle, sport and leisure destination, both locally and internationally. Its operations include running a Convention Bureau, a Visitor Services Bureau, as well as co-ordinating city-wide tourism marketing programmes, tourism information gathering and analysis.
Johannesburg Tourism Company has three offices:
Joburg Tourism Head Office
Tel: +27 11 883 3527
Sandton Tourism Information Centre
Tel: +27 11 883 3519
Park Station Tourism Information Centre
Tel: +27 11 338 5052/3
Operating hours 08:00 – 17:00 Monday - Friday
www.visitjoburg
