Tshwane hosts Tourism Fair, 6-7 October 2008
25. Sep, 2008
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Pretoria – The first ever tourism fair in Tshwane will be held on 6 and 7 October. “The aim of the fair is to optimise citywide tourism opportunities from a cultural, business and capital city perspective,” says Tembeka Mhlekwa, Strategic Executive Director: Economic Development at the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality.
“This will assist in accelerating economic growth and development of all tourism products, especially those of SMMEs, women and the youth.
“This is only possible if all tourism structures in the city join forces towards a common goal - strengthening the marketing of tourism products to attract more tourists. We are well aware that tourism initiatives should be government led, private sector driven and community based. The aim of this fair is thus to forge linkages for future tourism development,” says Mhlekwa.
The fair, consisting of a two-day conference, will gather role players in the city’s tourism industry to determine a common goal and future cooperation. On the first day delegates will visit various tourism products and participate in workshops. This conference-on-tour will focus on business tourism, leisure tourism, edu-tourism, sports tourism, events and conferences and eco- tourism. The outcomes of the workshops will be presented at a plenary session on the second conference day.
Statistics indicate that about five million tourists visit Tshwane annually, with well over 50 percent of these, namely 3,6 million, being day visitors. About 623 000 of these are foreign visitors from countries such as China, Japan, Brazil, India, the UK and the USA. Tourists visit Tshwane for leisure purposes and shopping in particular.
To be officially opened by the Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, other speakers at the conference include Andrew Wilson of Interactive Media and Social Networking Marketing at the Atlanta Convention and Visitor Bureau and Prof Ernie Heath of the Department of Tourism Management at the University of Pretoria. Wilson will highlight Atlanta’s experience during the 1996 Olympic Games and Heath will focus on the changing tourism environment.
Mandisa Silo, Deputy Director of Tourism at the Department of Trade and Industry will discuss the government’s tourism support programme, Pule Malefane, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Gauteng Tourism Authority will give a provincial tourism perspective and Marius Potgieter, Senior Lecturer in Tourism at the Tshwane University of Technology will share information for tourism strategy development.
Mhlekwa says the fair should result in an accord and record of understanding between all tourism role players in Tshwane.
“We should agree on the roll-out of long term tourism development and marketing projects like a business and action plan with measurable performance indicators, a tourism brand for Tshwane, a tourism website, official travel guide and a schedule for the formation of a regional tourism organisation.
“This conference should make tourism development and marketing in Tshwane an example of an inclusive local approach to tourism with a seamless public/private partnership that works. In the long term it should tangibly benefit the residents of Tshwane through the ripple-effect of tourism – increased tourist spend, job creation and the spreading of wealth.
“I trust that after this fair, Tshwane will never be the same again,” says Mhlekwa.
My name is Muzi Mohale a full-time travel blogger, your host at Travelwires.com responsible for all editorial on this blog. I blog about the travel and tourism industry in Africa. Apart from blogging about tourism, I also run 
Please put into the Pretoria tourist travel – a visit to Amajobjob- it is in the museumpark building and it is a creative industry that take people out of poverty forever- through a creative industries programme. You can come and buy products from the craftes and see hoe soulfulness is happening despite the crime and grime going on