Programme Director,
Honourable Minister of Tourism,
Directors-General present,
MECs from different provinces and their HODs,
Chief Executive Officers from various organisations,
MMC’s from different municipalities,
Traditional leaders,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen.
Tourism is becoming the key contributor to our economy. With Africa, and South Africa taking its place in the international space, tourism becomes the key economic driver to usher in foreign investments into our continent and therefore our country. Being the economic hub of the continent, Gauteng province becomes the conduit into the country and to the whole of Africa.
Working together with all the other eight provinces, we must make sure that the experience that our tourists feel must linger on in their minds forever, and that must lead them to recommend South Africa as a tourist destination to their friends and families. It means therefore, and very simply, that each and every South African must become a tourist agent, a responsibility of promoting our country which none of us as citizens must escape.
In most instances, it is not only scenic landscapes and tourist attractions that define the tourists’ visit, but the feelings of hospitality that are warmly offered by the hosts. As Africans we are renowned for our hospitality, let us therefore continue to enhance this wonderful experience for our tourists.
All the tourist attractions in our province are located in municipalities. Municipalities are responsible for provision of infrastructure and basic services for the sustainment of these facilities. Local government has a significant impact on natural and cultural resources in and around tourism destinations. Local government impacts on tourism products in how they manage their environment and provide services to their communities. Local government has a mandate to plan for, impact upon, improve and monitor tourism development.
Tourism, among other industries, relies on having municipal resources in a healthy state. Local government provides the core utilities and infrastructure on which the tourism industry is based. This includes district and municipal roads, lighting, water and sewerage, public transport systems, signs and airports and ports. Local government has a role to play in the operation of attractions such as museums, art galleries, sports stadia, convention centres, parks, gardens, events, tours, and other amenities.
Also, tourism is built into Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) of all municipalities, and therefore each municipality in Gauteng has specific and targeted institute/strategy for promoting tourism. At the provincial level we have the Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA), as a specialist agency, which is tasked with the development and marketing of tourism in our province. The Authority was founded on the Gauteng Tourism Act, No. 18 of 1998.
The GTA broadly carries a dual mandate: on the one hand, to position Gauteng as a globally desirable destination through its marketing and promotional efforts and on the other, to manage Gauteng as a globally competitive destination through ensuring that it is a value-for-money destination.
The Gauteng Tourism Authority also works in close collaboration with regional and local government structures to advance the notion of positioning Gauteng as a global city region whilst seeking to achieve a collaborative government approach to harmonize tourism promotion and management in the province.
It also maintains strong ties with SA Tourism, which leads the international marketing drive and generally aligns itself to the national tourism agenda. This supported environment creates an opportunity for municipalities to enhance their marketing and promotions’ campaigns for their own tourist attractions in their local spheres where tourist experience is felt.
The growth of tourism nationally and provincially as an agent for economic growth and development has resulted in the role of the Gauteng Tourism Authority also growing exponentially in a bid to create sustainable job and entrepreneurial opportunities. This, in turn, has seen the effort to formalise tourism as an economic sector with its specific economic contribution.
To this end, the GTA is chief among the industries and economic sectors identified to drive economic growth and creation of decent work through the Gauteng Employment Growth and Development Strategy (GEGDS) and the National Growth Path (NGP), both of which have job creation as their centrepiece.
With the highest levels of unemployment in our country, every creative mean must be used to create employment across all sectors. As Gauteng government we have identified tourism as one of the keys to unlock the potential of job creation. This is a view we share with our municipalities.
We are excited about this local government tourism conference, and we are hopeful that the deliberations here will lead to new ideas on how to improve and grow our tourism sector, thereby increasing much needed revenue and creating jobs. Together with our municipalities we are ready to work with all of you, and we have no doubt that working together, we can change the landscape of tourism and create a unique and unforgettable tourist experience.
In conclusion, as the host province for this conference, I warmly welcome you to our province, which is renowned for working this fast and perfect, “Kuyasheshwa”.
I wish you all a pleasant and productive stay, and I hope that going back to your provinces you will tell your loved ones about the hospitality of Gauteng, so that they too can visit our vibrant province.
Siyanamukela, welkom in Gauteng.
