To mark Tourism Month, the metro hosted the inaugural Ekurhuleni Tourism Conference at The Lakes Hotel, in Benoni, to launch a five-year Ekurhuleni Tourism Strategy.
With over 200 water bodies, golfing facilities and art deco buildings, the metro is well poised to become Gauteng’s tourism destination of choice, delegates at Ekurhuleni’s inaugural conference heard.
Speaking at the two-day conference, finance and economic development MMC, Clr Nkosiphindile Xhakaza said it was time that Ekurhuleni’s tourism potential was released.
Xhakaza said his department had developed a Tourism Strategy 2016-2021 which will see development of the tourism infrastructure.
In line with the strategy, a sum of R10-million has been allocated for the 2016/17 financial year to create a tourism hub in Khumalo Street, in Thokoza.
“The development of Khumalo Street is part of the broader township revitalisation plan,” he said.
“The objective is to turn the once notorious street into a tourism destination of choice.”
Xhakaza also explained that among key tourism attractions outlined in the Tourism Strategy is the establishment of a visitor information centre at the OR Tambo International Airport.
The development of a CODESA (Convention for a Democratic South Africa) Museum is also on the cards, which will give visitors an account of CODESA negotiations.
The CODESA negotiations took place in Kempton Park to pave the way for the democratic regime.
The Germiston area will not be the same when a waterfront facility at the Germiston Lake is established.
The facility will boast a food court and a conference centre.
“These interventions are aimed at making Ekurhuleni globally known and to ensure that we strengthen the development of our local products, our citizens’ standard of living and also strengthen our local businesses in order to alleviate unemployment and attract tourists in the metro,” said Xhakaza.
Every year in September, South Africa celebrates Tourism Month to provide the tourism industry with the opportunity for a heightened focus on the importance of tourism to the local economy.
It also serves as an opportunity to promote domestic tourism and create a culture of travel among South Africans in order to experience and know more about their country.
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