JOBURG TOURISM PARTICIPATES IN AFRICA’s FIRST “TALE OF TWO CITIES” SHOWCASE IN LAGOS

3October 2012

From 3 – 6 October 2012, the Joburg Tourism team willbe accompanying Executive Mayor, Cllr Parks Tau and other high level citydelegates to the inaugural and collaborative showcase of business, tourism, artsand culture in Lagos, Nigeria.

Entitled “The Tale of Two Cities” this “fusion” eventdraws on the similarities between Johannesburg and Lagos – their status as afinancial and commercial hubs, destination cities and gateways to oppositeparts of the African continent, as well as being vibrant melting pots of arts,culture, fashion, film and music.  This isan ongoing initiative for an annual event shared by the two cities, with Joburgset to host the bilateral exhibition and conference in 2013.
The comprehensive three day programme for 2012includes presentations on business, trade and investment opportunities, as wellas events dedicated to showcasing music, arts, culture and fashion. 

“Driven by the SA High Commission in Lagos, with  buy in from other partners like SA Tourismand SAA, as well private sector stakeholders like the large hotel groups, theentire focus of the project is to foster bi-lateral relations in trade,investment, tourism – and of course, not forgetting civil society,” saysPhelisa Mangcu, Acting CEO, Johannesburg Tourism Company.  “As one ofthe strongest African economies, Nigeria is a valuable continental market forAfrica in many respects and we are here to represent everything Joburg has tooffer Nigerians from a business, investment, leisure and lifestyleperspective”. 

The week’s activities include a fashion show, a foodand wine festival, as well as collaborative film industry projects.  While celebrated SA designer “Sista Bucks”will be showing her range, the Soweto String Quartet is scheduled to perform atthe highlight of the week – a music concert featuring notable South African andNigerian artistes.

The delegation from Johannesburg includes ExecutiveMayor, Cllr Parks Tau, MMC for Economic Development, Ruby Mathang, as well asthe City Manager, Trevor Fowler.  The JTCcontingent includes the marketing department who will be operating a JoburgTourism exhibition, while acting CEO Phelisa Mangcu, will be addressing one ofthe business conference sessions on tourism development – driving economicgrowth through tourism and opportunities in Johannesburg.

JOBURG’S GDS 2040

Interms of the city of Johannesburg’s Growth and Development Strategy 2040 [www.joburg.org.za/gds2040], tourismremains an economic growth imperative on the city’s agenda. It is an importantcatalyst to encourage the development of the SMME sector in order to stimulatethe growth and development of a vibrant second economy.  It is the Johannesburg Tourism’s strategy toattract increasing visitor numbers Joburg, encourage them to stay longer, spendmore, improve seasonality patterns and the spread of visitors across thecity. 

In line with these developments and aspart of the institutional review process to effect closer alignment with Citygoals, this year Joburg Tourism Company is being  incorporated into the City’s Communication& Tourism Group. The GDS is coupled to the city’s Integrated DevelopmentPlan (IDP) and both are aligned with the National Planning Commission’s NewGrowth Path. 

“Ourongoing local and international promotional campaigns include exhibitingat business and leisure trade exhibitions where JTC shares its plans tomaintain, defend and grow its market share,” says Mangcu.  “Asthe City of Johannesburg’s destination marketing organisation, Joburg Tourismremains focused on positioning the city not only as the continent’s leadingbusiness hub, but also as an exciting, vibrant year-round destination forsignature events, lifestyle, the arts, culture, fashion, sports – and ofcourse, mega-events.”