New SA Tourism CEO to meet press, stakeholders

The event will take place at the organisation's headquarters in Sandton, Johannesburg.

January-McLean, a former ambassador to Portugal, was appointed in November last year for a term of three years effective from 1 January 2010, according to the office of tourism minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk.

It will be the first time for the press to meet January-Mclean, and journalists will be given an opportunity to chat with both the new CEO and the board chair.

January-McLean has been credited with ‘significantly steering' growth of trade and tourism between SA and Portugal during her term as an ambassador. She replaces acting CEO Didi Moyle, who took over from March 2009, the tourism ministry said.

Things have been busy at SA Tourism in the past two years, with the organisation flexing its muscles to ‘aggressively market' SA as a prime destination tourism to the world, especially in anticipation of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

A number of media road trips were also organised last year during Tourism Month to give ‘incredulous' journalists a taste of what other ‘forgotten' parts of the country have to offer in terms of tourism. However, this has been overshadowed by business owners' overpricing to enrich themselves - something analysts fear will backfire in the long run.

So, many observers believe January-McLean has too much food on her plate to digest.

For more, go to www.tourism.gov.za and www.southafrica.net.