eThekwini, More that 14 000 delegates consisting of exhibitors, buyers, online travel agencies,
booking agents, destination marketing companies, travel wholesalers, airlines, media and
representatives of 25 African countries and 28 globally are now on day 2 of Africa’s Travel Indaba
underway in Durban.
The Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA) and 8 of its co-exhibitors are hard at work to reassure the
international, regional and domestic markets present here at Indaba that Gauteng is taking the
issue of crime and grime serious. “We have partnered with the provincial department of
Community Safety and Gautrain in presenting a strong showcase featuring the presence of the
Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens or Amapanyaza as there are colloquially known, Gauteng
Traffic Police and our robust commuter transport system employed by the Gautrain Management
in our stand, story and daily engagements, explained GTA CEO Sthembiso Dlamini.
Supporting this work is an arsenal of 30 SMMEs representing the province’s 5 regions packaging
and selling diverse, authentic and proudly Gauteng offerings narrating the journey and story of
the country’s 30 years of democracy and freedom. Also featuring heavily as a basket of new
tourism offerings is the sports and music tourism routes the golden province is pioneering.
High levels of crime and grime affects our ability to leverage better the value and potential of
tourism. It is a serious reputation and positive brand killer with effects impacting residents, visitors
and the broader tourism revenue.
“We are encourage by the efforts of the Gauteng provincial government, social partners and
product owners in creating a united front to tackle crime head-on. The presence of the wardens
here at Indaba and the introduction of high-tech mechanism, artificial intelligence, on boarding of
the military veterans to support crime fighting initiatives and strengthened community policing
forums across Gauteng is receiving positive feedback and support by delegates and participants
at this important global leisure travel platform”, reiterated Dlamini.
From the recently released 4th quarter tourism arrival figures of 2023/24, the golden province of
Gauteng continue to sit on pole position with almost half of the 8.6million international arrivals into
South Africa exploring, visiting and enjoying our province. Domestic trips have also increased
tremendously as locals take their shot left travels, do actual holiday trips and spend money in the
many small enterprises found in our townships and tourism hubs.
The measure of success for us as the GTA at this year’s Africa’s Travel Indaba will be the number
of forward bookings generated by the SMMEs and other signature products we are hosting and
providing market access for. The adoption, appreciation and support of our residents and visitors
safety messaging, the integration of public transport infrastructure to support tourism and massive
leveraging and packaging of our new experiences in the music, sports and film tourism areas.
For more information and blow-by-blow coverage of the Gauteng tourism showcase
at Africa’s Travel Indaba 2024, follow us on our social and digital media channels @visitgauteng
on X (Twitter) Instagram, and TikTok and I Love Gauteng on Facebook and Gauteng Tourism
Authority on LinkedIn, ENDS
Enquiries: Barba Gaoganediwe,
Spokesperson Gauteng Tourism Authority
0834467844
barba@gauteng.net
@Barba_G74 on twitter
www.gauteng.net
