Tshwane Tourism Fair launches this week

Project Manager Mike Gcabo says all of this is to attract more tourists to enjoy what the city has to offer.

“Delegates are showing special interest in the two international speakers - Henriette Wägerle, Munich Host City Coordinator who will speak on the 2006 FIFA experience and Andrew Wilson of the Atlanta Convention and Visitor Bureau who will speak on the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996. With 2010 on South Africa's doorstep, it will certainly be interesting to learn from the experience of people who have hosted two of the world's biggest sporting events. Tshwane is a host city for the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament.

“However, there is also mounting interest in the future of tourism in Tshwane. Many private sector tourism role-players have participated in the pre-conference discussions and are eager to contribute meaningfully to develop tourism in the city.”

Gcabo says the fair, hosted at the Tshwane Events Centre, will have an interactive, business unusual approach, incorporating delegates' input towards determining a common goal and future cooperation.

On the first day of the two day conference, delegates will visit various tourism products and participate in workshops. This conference-on-tour will focus on business tourism, leisure tourism, edu-tourism, sports tourism, events and conferences and eco-tourism. The outcomes of the workshops will be presented at a plenary session on the second conference day.

Besides the two international speakers, other speakers include tourism stalwart Prof Ernie Heath of the Department of Tourism Management at the University of Pretoria who will focus on the changing tourism environment. Pule Malefane, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Gauteng Tourism Authority will give a provincial tourism perspective and the city's Strategic Executive Director: Economic Development, Tembeka Mhlekwa will discuss the new face of tourism in Tshwane. The city's Executive Mayor, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, will officially open the conference.

Gcabo says outcomes of the conference should be an agreement on the roll-out of long term tourism development and marketing projects like a business and action plan with measurable performance indicators, a tourism brand for Tshwane, a tourism website, official travel guide and a schedule for the formation of a regional tourism organisation.

“This conference should make tourism development and marketing in Tshwane an example of an inclusive local approach to tourism with a seamless public/private partnership that works. In the long term it should tangibly benefit the residents of Tshwane through the ripple-effect of tourism - increased tourist spend, job creation and the spreading of wealth.”