Johannesburg, The Spring to Summer period in Gauteng continue to be a favourable period for high impact quality glocal signature events hosting. These events not only do they contribute immensely to our destination competitiveness but plays a critical role in driving increased visitation, high tourism revenue, spend and more bed nights as visitors explore and fall in love with the golden province more.
September, which is celebrated as Tourism and Heritage month had set the tone for what visitors and locals can do, expect, and enjoy more from the destination offerings ranging from global sporting, lifestyle, entertainment and creative arts circuit events, personal and business shopping, visiting friends and relatives and most importantly taking holiday trips and power weekend breaks in the golden province.
Amongst others, the DSTV Delicious International Food & Music and the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festivals attracted over 50 000 revelers and visitors in back-to-back weekends, Comic Con Africa alone attracted over 70 000 participants making it one of the biggest pop culture and gaming festivals on the African continent.
On the #SportingGP front, the province continue to be the undisputed Home Of Champions with record breaking attendance at the Springbok New Zealand test match, Betway Premiership matches and the recently held Red Bull Formula 1 Street Showdown in Sandton attracting over 20 000 spectators. In total, over 490 000 spectators, fans and participants graced the Gauteng golden events circuit injecting over R2.1billion into the provincial visitor’s economy and increasing visitor’s length of stay to 5.7 bed nights just in the month of September 2024.
“For us in Gauteng, these are not statistics or numbers to throw around, this represent actual improvement in the livelihoods of our residents, bread on the tables of our entrepreneurs, tour operators and important market access opportunities for our SMMEs and positive advert for the golden province locally, regionally, and global”, explained Gauteng MEC for Finance & Economic Development Lebogang Maile.
This month of October, which is celebrated as Transport and Pride Month, we draw inspiration from the dialectical relations between transport and tourism and our cosmopolitan and inclusive city region position for the LGBTIQ+ community. Gauteng and its people are a powerful symbol of Queer inclusivity and resilience. We welcome the raising of the LGBTQIA+ flag on 2nd October 2024 at the now World Heritage Site of Constitution Hill to mark the start of Pride Month.
Accordingly, Pride Month offers us further an opportunity co-create and collaborate with the community sustainable pink tourism routes and experiences development in the province as we continue to diversify our tourism portfolio to cater for diverse and ever-changing travel and tourism consumption needs.
Leveraging on our quality transport infrastructure network, we are looking forward to an empowering partnership with the city’s legendary pride parade, 35 Johannesburg Pride which takes place on 26th of October 2024 in Sandton and the M Fest Festival which returns to Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit after 2 years absence from the 25 – 27 October promising to be more than a festival but a full #GPLifestyle weekend experience.
“The vibrancy is here! Spring to Summer season in Gauteng is going to feel like a fantasy, and everyone is welcome to experience the warmth and exceptional quality services provided by various Gauteng products, attractions, experiences, events, and accommodation establishments. Without a doubt, the hosting of quality glocal events in our destination not only improves our tourism offerings but helps in the creation of sustainable jobs and the building of a resilient eventing sector with the required skills set and consistent events circuit in Gauteng” concluded Gauteng Tourism Authority CEO Sthembiso Dlamini.
For more information on what to do and where to go this season in Gauteng, visit www.gauteng.net. Follow @visitgauteng on Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok and I Love Gauteng on Facebook and download the Visit Gauteng mobile app on App store and Google play.
Enquiries: Barba Gaoganediwe, Spokesperson Gauteng Tourism
0834467844
[email protected]
@Barba_G74 on twitter
124 Main Street, Marshalltown, Johannesburg
www.gauteng.net
