Why Joburg is global celebrities’ playground

02 October 2015

 

One would be excused for thinking that the theme for this year’s National Tourism Month was coined with Johannesburg – and Johannesburg only – in mind.

 

The phrase – A Million New Experiences are a Sho’tleft Away – perfectly defines what Johannesburg is about and what it has to offer residents and visitors alike, especially in springtime, the first part of which happens to coincide with National Tourism Month –September. Nothing could be more apt than that.

 

The phrase is such a great fit that City leaders might be rapping themselves over the knuckles, LOL, for not having thought of it first. With ideal weather conditions, gorgeous sunsets, tourist attractions to die for, amazing scenery and an incredible calendar of cultural and social events ranging from the exquisite Soweto Wine and Lifestyle Festival to the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival, a million new experiences are indeed only a sho’tleft away in Joburg at this time of the year.

 

In fact, Johannesburg becomes a global meeting place for international and local celebrities and thought leaders during National Tourism Month, which reaches its climax on Tourism Day on Sunday September 27.

 

The other day filmmaker Spike Lee was in town, as were renowned United States author Sapphire and highly acclaimed British poet Linton Kwesi Johnson, the latter two for the Arts Alive International Festival. Before that it was top African singer Angelique Kidjo who paid a flying visit to the city – for the Jazz on the Lake Concert.

Top US musicians such as Marcus Miller, Peabo Brynson and Lee Oskar will meet Hugh Masekela, Oliver Mtukudzi and Vusi Mahlasela backstage at the Joy of Jazz Festival at the Sandton Convention Centre this weekend or for coffee at the Michelangelo.

 

It is probably because of all these reasons that Johannesburg – Africa’s most-visited city, according to the MasterCard Global Cities Index – was named winner of the 2015 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Destinations Award. The result was based on reviews and opinions of millions of travellers from around the globe.

 

In 2014 the city was ranked eighth on the Africa list out of 25 cities and fourth on the South Africa list out of 10 cities. As if that was not enough, the City was presented with the Arbor City Award by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, topping seven other major municipalities, including Cape Town, Tshwane and eThekwini.

 

The city also claimed the No 1 position in the Rough Guide’s Top Cities to visit in 2015 and it was the only South African metropolis that made it into Travel and Leisure Guide’s 50 Standout Destinations.

 

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Development Cllr Ruby Mathang says the growing list of accolades bestowed on Johannesburg cements the city as an all-year round, global destination for business, sports, lifestyle and leisure.

 

Cllr Mathang says the latest list of accolades signals “a noticeable positive shift” in perceptions and sentiments towards Johannesburg.

 

“As we welcome visitors to our fabulous city for various reasons, we would like to remind them that Joburg is more than a stopover. We encourage them to spend a few extra days to explore the city’s sites and attractions, and to discover why so many find Joburg extraordinary,” he says.

 

Tourism is an important economic sector for Johannesburg that has a positive effect on the entire hospitality and leisure value chain - from accommodation providers to restaurants, and from museums to curio shops. One can visit the Maboneng Precinct for a nostalgic evening of film at the Bioscope, Vilakazi Street in Soweto for a glimpse into Johannesburg’s past and Newtown and surrounds for bargain hunting and shopping, to mention a few.

 

With more than 9 300 hotel rooms, excellent business connectivity, superior accessibility by road, rail and air – with 55 airlines linking Johannesburg to the rest of the country, continent and the world – the City of Gold is truly a mega offering of wonder, potential and excellence.

 

To cement its reputation as the ultimate international destination of choice, the city will host no fewer than 13 local and international events in the next two years. These include the:

• World Congress on Public Relations (27-29 September 2015);

• EcoMobility World Festival (3-30 October 2015);

• Enactus World Cup Conference (14-15 October 2015);

• International Symposium on Mine Planning and Equipment Selection (8-11 November 2015);

• Africities Summit (1-5 December 2015);

• International Commission on Large Dams (May 2016);

• HGA Global Forum (16 June 2016);

• Conference of the International Law Association (7–11 August 2016);

•  

International Incentive Trip (September 2016):

• Conference of the African Health Economics and Policy Association (2016);

• Africa & Middle East Conference of the Junior Chamber International (2016);

• African Conference on Peace through Tourism (2017); and 

• Global Entrepreneurship Congress (2017).