Date: 06/07/2004
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
Title: M Shilowa: Gauteng Tourism Indaba
ADDRESS BY PREMIER MBHAZIMA SHILOWA, AT THE GAUTENG TOURISM INDABA, Gallagher Estate, Midrand, 6 July 2004
Master of Ceremonies;
MECs;
CEO of the Gauteng Tourism Authority
Entrepreneurs and representatives of the tourism industry;
Ladies and gentlemen
Recently we unveiled our bold new plans to further develop our province, Gauteng, and make it an even better place in which to live. Our plans are based on our vision to transform Gauteng into a globally competitive urban region that is integrated politically, socially and economically.
This new Gauteng will continue to play a pivotal role in the creation of a better South Africa, Africa and the world. It will be characterised by a faster growing economy and job creation, high levels of skills, healthy and productive people, safe and sustainable communities, deepened democracy and nation building and an effective and caring government.
Our presence here today as government, entrepreneurs and key role-players in the tourism industry, confirms our conviction that the vision we outlined enjoys the support of all stakeholders in the province. We all want Gauteng to continue to play a leading role in the transformation of our country and continent.
We are here because we all want to work together as partners to make Gauteng the preferred destination for both domestic and foreign tourists. We are here because we all want to enhance Gauteng's status as Africa's economic powerhouse, which holds its own in the world.
The impressive performance of the tourism industry in our province over the past years has demonstrated what the industry can contribute to our province's gross geographic product growth. Tourism has particularly contributed significantly to the creation of jobs and business opportunities for small medium and micro enterprises.
According to a South African tourism report, half of the 6.5 million tourists who visited South Africa in 2003 preferred Gauteng as their holiday destination. Gauteng also took the lion's share of the tourism spending in the same year. Of the R53.9 billion that was spent in South Africa by tourists in 2003, R18.7 billion was spent in Gauteng.
There are many things that make Gauteng a unique and attractive destination for tourists. It has, among others, places of cultural and historical significance such as the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site and world-class entertainment, hospitality, shopping and conference facilities, which offer visitors a perfect environment for work and relaxation.
We must fully exploit all these unique advantages to grow the tourism industry in the province to higher levels to increase its contribution to the GGP growth. This includes identifying new opportunities and acting upon them to further entrench our position as the gateway to Africa.
As we entrench our status as Africa's economic powerhouse there will be increased focus on our province by travellers from all over the continent. According to the World Travel Organisation by 2020 fifty percent of all trips undertaken in Africa will be intra-continental and by 2010 South Africa is forecasted to be the most dominant player in the African market with a 33% market share. Gauteng is very well placed to service the needs of the intra-continental African traveller.
As we all know, staging the 2010 World Cup in South Africa means that there will be more sports tourists visiting South Africa during the tournament. Of more importance is ensuring that their experience is such that they come back to our province with their friends and relatives long after the tournament has ended.
On the strength of its facilities and location, Gauteng is expected to host some of the most important matches and other activities associated with the World Cup. We must therefore expect that many of the visitors who will be in the country for the World Cup will spend time in our province. Many opportunities will be created for tourism entrepreneurs to service the visitors and show them Gauteng in all its diversity.
Recently we have seen encouraging developments in our campaign to reclaim our status as the preferred home of competitive sport. Last Saturday our national football team, Bafana Bafana returned to the "home of champions" after years of absence. On 17 July we will host the Vodacom Challenge where two of our local football giants and two visiting teams from the DRC will exhibit high quality football at the FNB stadium.
We are in discussions with sport bodies, in particular football, to find ways in which we can increase activities in the province to enhance our status as the preferred home of competitive sport.
Performing art and culture is another area that has a great potential to enhance our status as the preferred destination for tourists. In addition to some of the best facilities that we have, most of South Africa's top performing artists is based in our province.
Gauteng can and must become a buzzing, hospitable and non-stop entertaining hub - the artistic and cultural capital of Africa that draws both locals and foreigners to rich cultural and historical places.
A big question that all of us gathered here today must answer is whether we are ready to meet the needs of all the people who will be visiting our province. Are we ready to take full advantage of all the opportunities that are created by the increasing number of visitors to our province to grow the tourism industry?
Today, as government, entrepreneurs and key role-players in the tourism industry, we must find the answer to this question. We must identify the challenges facing the industry and commit ourselves to overcome them and enhance our province's status as the preferred destination for tourists.
As the tourism industry grows we must ensure that the opportunities that are created by the increased flows of visitors to our province translate into increased economic opportunities and job creation.
The benefits of a growing tourism industry must be enjoyed by all the people of our province especially local communities, emerging operators and black entrepreneurs.
We need to pay serious attention to skills development within the industry to maintain and improve our existing excellent reputation for quality service and hospitality.
Lack of graded township based accommodation establishment is another challenge that requires our urgent attention. Important as it is to take tourists to black areas, that is not enough. We need to reach a stage where tourists spend quality time in these areas. That is what will help create jobs and eradicate poverty. We do not just need bed and breakfast places in the townships, we need hotels too.
The Gauteng Tourism Authority will be working with role-players in the industry to address these and other challenges that face the industry. We need to make this indaba an annual event where we can take stock and prepare our approach to the national conference.
Together with the industry we must establish a Gauteng Tourism Forum must, among others, develop a ten-year tourism strategy for our province and serve as a platform for all tourism stakeholders and role-players to share ideas on how we can further expand the industry.
I have no doubt that with our total commitment, together as government and the tourism industry we can strengthen Gauteng's position as a preferred destination for domestic and foreign tourists.
For more information contact: Thabo Masebe
Tel: (011) 355 6036
Cell: 082 410 8087
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
6 July 2004
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
Title: M Shilowa: Gauteng Tourism Indaba
ADDRESS BY PREMIER MBHAZIMA SHILOWA, AT THE GAUTENG TOURISM INDABA, Gallagher Estate, Midrand, 6 July 2004
Master of Ceremonies;
MECs;
CEO of the Gauteng Tourism Authority
Entrepreneurs and representatives of the tourism industry;
Ladies and gentlemen
Recently we unveiled our bold new plans to further develop our province, Gauteng, and make it an even better place in which to live. Our plans are based on our vision to transform Gauteng into a globally competitive urban region that is integrated politically, socially and economically.
This new Gauteng will continue to play a pivotal role in the creation of a better South Africa, Africa and the world. It will be characterised by a faster growing economy and job creation, high levels of skills, healthy and productive people, safe and sustainable communities, deepened democracy and nation building and an effective and caring government.
Our presence here today as government, entrepreneurs and key role-players in the tourism industry, confirms our conviction that the vision we outlined enjoys the support of all stakeholders in the province. We all want Gauteng to continue to play a leading role in the transformation of our country and continent.
We are here because we all want to work together as partners to make Gauteng the preferred destination for both domestic and foreign tourists. We are here because we all want to enhance Gauteng's status as Africa's economic powerhouse, which holds its own in the world.
The impressive performance of the tourism industry in our province over the past years has demonstrated what the industry can contribute to our province's gross geographic product growth. Tourism has particularly contributed significantly to the creation of jobs and business opportunities for small medium and micro enterprises.
According to a South African tourism report, half of the 6.5 million tourists who visited South Africa in 2003 preferred Gauteng as their holiday destination. Gauteng also took the lion's share of the tourism spending in the same year. Of the R53.9 billion that was spent in South Africa by tourists in 2003, R18.7 billion was spent in Gauteng.
There are many things that make Gauteng a unique and attractive destination for tourists. It has, among others, places of cultural and historical significance such as the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site and world-class entertainment, hospitality, shopping and conference facilities, which offer visitors a perfect environment for work and relaxation.
We must fully exploit all these unique advantages to grow the tourism industry in the province to higher levels to increase its contribution to the GGP growth. This includes identifying new opportunities and acting upon them to further entrench our position as the gateway to Africa.
As we entrench our status as Africa's economic powerhouse there will be increased focus on our province by travellers from all over the continent. According to the World Travel Organisation by 2020 fifty percent of all trips undertaken in Africa will be intra-continental and by 2010 South Africa is forecasted to be the most dominant player in the African market with a 33% market share. Gauteng is very well placed to service the needs of the intra-continental African traveller.
As we all know, staging the 2010 World Cup in South Africa means that there will be more sports tourists visiting South Africa during the tournament. Of more importance is ensuring that their experience is such that they come back to our province with their friends and relatives long after the tournament has ended.
On the strength of its facilities and location, Gauteng is expected to host some of the most important matches and other activities associated with the World Cup. We must therefore expect that many of the visitors who will be in the country for the World Cup will spend time in our province. Many opportunities will be created for tourism entrepreneurs to service the visitors and show them Gauteng in all its diversity.
Recently we have seen encouraging developments in our campaign to reclaim our status as the preferred home of competitive sport. Last Saturday our national football team, Bafana Bafana returned to the "home of champions" after years of absence. On 17 July we will host the Vodacom Challenge where two of our local football giants and two visiting teams from the DRC will exhibit high quality football at the FNB stadium.
We are in discussions with sport bodies, in particular football, to find ways in which we can increase activities in the province to enhance our status as the preferred home of competitive sport.
Performing art and culture is another area that has a great potential to enhance our status as the preferred destination for tourists. In addition to some of the best facilities that we have, most of South Africa's top performing artists is based in our province.
Gauteng can and must become a buzzing, hospitable and non-stop entertaining hub - the artistic and cultural capital of Africa that draws both locals and foreigners to rich cultural and historical places.
A big question that all of us gathered here today must answer is whether we are ready to meet the needs of all the people who will be visiting our province. Are we ready to take full advantage of all the opportunities that are created by the increasing number of visitors to our province to grow the tourism industry?
Today, as government, entrepreneurs and key role-players in the tourism industry, we must find the answer to this question. We must identify the challenges facing the industry and commit ourselves to overcome them and enhance our province's status as the preferred destination for tourists.
As the tourism industry grows we must ensure that the opportunities that are created by the increased flows of visitors to our province translate into increased economic opportunities and job creation.
The benefits of a growing tourism industry must be enjoyed by all the people of our province especially local communities, emerging operators and black entrepreneurs.
We need to pay serious attention to skills development within the industry to maintain and improve our existing excellent reputation for quality service and hospitality.
Lack of graded township based accommodation establishment is another challenge that requires our urgent attention. Important as it is to take tourists to black areas, that is not enough. We need to reach a stage where tourists spend quality time in these areas. That is what will help create jobs and eradicate poverty. We do not just need bed and breakfast places in the townships, we need hotels too.
The Gauteng Tourism Authority will be working with role-players in the industry to address these and other challenges that face the industry. We need to make this indaba an annual event where we can take stock and prepare our approach to the national conference.
Together with the industry we must establish a Gauteng Tourism Forum must, among others, develop a ten-year tourism strategy for our province and serve as a platform for all tourism stakeholders and role-players to share ideas on how we can further expand the industry.
I have no doubt that with our total commitment, together as government and the tourism industry we can strengthen Gauteng's position as a preferred destination for domestic and foreign tourists.
For more information contact: Thabo Masebe
Tel: (011) 355 6036
Cell: 082 410 8087
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
6 July 2004
Advertisement
EMAIL THIS ARTICLE SAVE THIS ARTICLE FEEDBACK
To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
