In 2018, Gauteng Tourism in collaboration with tourism networking, blogger, and influencer organisations played host to Digital Symposium 2018 (#digisym2018).

Attended by tourism industry stakeholders, product owners, digital specialists, and influencers; the seminar provided a platform for these experts in digital content and marketing to share advice and insights. At the seminar, presentations discussed the current climate of the digital economy, with a key focus on destination marketing. The discussions also paid attention to the digital economy’s requirements and what it would take to meet its future demands. Industry experts also brought their knowledge, insights gained, and shared various tools and resources that have helped them successfully navigate this ever-changing industry.

This year, Gauteng Tourism aims to lead and host the third installment of the digital symposium at Africa’s Travel Indaba in Durban. The seminar will comprise of various activation points that speak to the advancement of the digital economy with a key focus on destination marketing.

The primary objectives of this year’s #Digisym2023 are to:

• Promote and position Gauteng Tourism as both a thought leader and champion in the digital tourism space.
• Cement Gauteng Tourism as a leader in digital tourism.
• Position Gauteng as the leading province in terms of digital destination marketing.
• Allow local influencers and the travel trade to network in an environment of learning.
• Motivate and educate the industry to market Gauteng better.

The Digisym will be specifically structured to focus on current trends, best practices, and case studies in Digital Marketing. It aims to guide those in attendance on how to create innovative Marketing strategies with action plans that can be used to gain competitive advantage for their destinations, products, facilities, and businesses.

The key themes proposed for this year include:

• Travel Technology: Showcasing the new industry tools and platforms centered around travel technology as well as current trends and the future of digital economy.

      E.g., Automated stores, 3D technology and animation.

• Digitally empowering the SMME: How to mobilise entrepreneurial drive and to create an environment for tech savvy SMMES and tourism products
• Digital Branding: Role-players in the tourism space using digital tools and communities to elevate their brands.
• Content Creation & Marketing
• Diversity in successful digital marketing

The seminar will have a list of dynamic speakers and showcase Gauteng through various interactive experiences such as digital branding, videos, and virtual reality experiences of the province.

• The digital symposium will infuse into Gauteng’s Tourism’s Digital Marketing drive to provide a fulfilling experience of Gauteng through the packaging of interactive digital platforms, campaigns, and experiences.
• There is opportunity to network with other digital industry leaders, professionals, and students from which there is an exceptional opportunity for horizontal exchange of experience.
• The promotion of Innovations around tourism safety and security
• The digital symposium aims to create a sizeable input from industry role players.
• Create an experiential exhibition showcasing possibilities of digital marketing in the high technology era.
• Place the event as an ignition that guides the tourism industry and government in putting up resources.

• Leverage the event’s large media profile to generate editorial coverage that influences travel to Gauteng and resulting in increased visitation to the province.

• By having this symposium, we will also be able to generate content for our social and digital media channels in line with the monthly focus content plan. We will also have access to the digital influencers who have continued to grow the destination brand and profile the province as a vibrant, urban vibe big city through placement of stories in the social media platforms that influence travelers.