Gauteng MEC for Finance & Economic Development, Lebogang Maile has outlined the province’s Tourism Month programme.
The MEC says in the past financial year, Gauteng faced a decline in domestic tourism spending. This was after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the tourism sector, which led to the closure of some iconic sites in Gauteng such as SAB World of Beer Museum in Newton.
Maile says holiday spending in the province has dropped drastically.
“The province’s overnight tourism expenditure lamented to R18.86 billion, marking a dramatic decrease of 45.8%. In addition, holiday spending in Gauteng fell significantly to R7.22 billion, reflecting a sharp drop of 59.2%. The substantial decreases in Gauteng’s tourism expenditure underscores a critical need for targeted strategies.”
Maile also addresses job creation, stating that the World Travel and Tourism Council anticipates South Africa’s travel and tourism sector to play a significant role in driving the nation’s economic recovery.
The MEC says the recently released crime statistics do not bode well for the province.
“The recently released crime statistics indicate that while there’s been an overall decrease in cases of serious crime, the Gauteng province had the highest number of reported cases. While such news does not bode well for our tourism industry, the Gauteng Provincial Government is not sitting idling, our approach to safety and security looks after residents and visitors alike.”
The CEO of the Gauteng Tourism Authority, Sthembiso Dlamini, highlights the key events that will take place in the month of September.
Head of Destination Promotions & Marketing, Barba Gaoganediwe urges Gauteng residents to explore their own province in order to become better tourist hosts.
To maintain safety and security, law enforcement officials have been deployed to key tourism hotspots, township tourism hubs and other significant events to help combat crime.
VIDEO | Lebogang Maile outlines Tourism Month programme:
-Report by Xoliswa Makhikhi
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