Closing of the Tourism & Heritage Month in style, the Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA) on behalf of destination Gauteng, has launched the new Visit Gauteng Mobile App, Digital Marketplace and I Love Gauteng Online Shop, positioning the province at the forefront of Africa’s evolving visitor economy and creating a powerful new platform to convert visitor movement into jobs, trade, enterprise growth and economic value.
The platform was officially unveiled by Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, Agriculture & Rural Development Vuyiswa Ramokgopa at the Creative Uprising Hub at Constitution Hill last night. The launch was attended by Head of Department Motlajo Moholwa, GTA Acting CEO Crezelda Venter, Vikash Deva, Gauteng Tourism Authority Board Members, tourism stakeholders, creators, marketing partners and representatives from the creative, cultural and business sectors.
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A New Digital Gateway for Gauteng Tourism
The digital ecosystem represents a strategic shift from traditional destination marketing towards an always-on economic platform that connects tourism, commerce, culture, heritage, events and entrepreneurship through a single integrated gateway.
By linking discovery, planning, booking, purchasing and sharing, the platform creates new opportunities for local businesses, tourism operators, township enterprises and creative entrepreneurs to access markets and customers year-round.
Turning Visitor Movement Into Economic Value
Speaking at the launch, MEC Vuyiswa Ramokgopa said the province was investing in a new form of economic infrastructure aimed at unlocking greater value from visitor activity.
“We are not merely launching an app. We are activating a new economic infrastructure for tourism, culture, creativity and commerce. The real challenge facing destinations today is not attracting visitors, but converting movement into measurable economic value, transactions, jobs and opportunity.”
She added: “We are moving from marketing Gauteng periodically to marketing Gauteng continuously. From campaigns to an always-on ecosystem. From visibility to conversion. From movement to value capture.”
Creating Opportunities for Gauteng Businesses
GTA Acting CEO Crezelda Venter described the platform as a game-changing intervention for market access and economic inclusion.
“This platform has been built to turn attention into action, interest into income and visitation into economic participation. Every tourism product listed, every creator onboarded and every business promoted creates new opportunities for growth within Gauteng’s visitor economy.”
Visit Gauteng Marketplace
A major feature of the new ecosystem is the Visit Gauteng Marketplace, which provides a shared digital storefront for SMMEs, township enterprises, artists, designers, tourism products, cultural experiences and proudly Gauteng-made products. The initiative seeks to democratise access to markets and ensure that more local businesses benefit directly from visitor spend.
Visit Gauteng x Diadora City Pack Merchandise Collection
The evening also marked the introduction of the Visit Gauteng x Diadora City Pack Merchandise Collection, developed through a partnership between the Gauteng Tourism Authority and global lifestyle and sportswear brand Diadora South Africa. The collaboration aims to showcase Gauteng’s identity while creating pathways for local designers, stylists and creators to participate in global value chains.
According to Vikash Deva, Sales Executive at Diadora South Africa: “The City Pack is more than merchandise. It is a platform for creativity, collaboration and opportunity. Through this partnership we are creating visibility for local designers and creators while connecting Gauteng’s unique stories and talent to broader commercial and lifestyle markets.”
Gauteng’s Broader Visitor Economy Strategy
The launch forms part of Gauteng’s broader strategy to position itself as Africa’s Bleisure Powerhouse, leveraging its strengths in business events, culture, heritage, lifestyle and innovation while creating a seamless pathway from visitation to economic participation.
Closing the event, MEC Ramokgopa called on businesses, municipalities, creators and residents to actively participate in the new ecosystem.
“The platform is live. The marketplace is open. The opportunity is here. Let us align behind one destination message, one digital gateway and one visitor economy mission to ensure that every journey, every event, every story and every visitor creates measurable value for the people of Gauteng.”
