By Akani Nkuna
Gauteng Tourism has predicted a major revenue boost and tourism surge off the back of the G20 Leaders’ Summit, projecting more than 1.7 million arrivals in the province, with music events and adventure activities expected to drive the tourism economy.
The agency forecasts that the province could generate about R4.2 billion in tourism revenue by the end of January, as international delegates, media and business leaders extend their stays in Johannesburg and surrounding areas.
“With the G20 World Leaders’ Summit hosting coinciding with the country’s summer and spring into the festive season period, we are anticipating many of the delegates, advanced teams, media and captains of industries to stay behind and take advantage of Johannesburg, Gauteng and South-Africa’s warm weather, blue skies and world-class hospitality rooted in Ubuntu,” said Gauteng Tourism spokesperson, Barba Gaoganediwe, on Sunday.
The G20 Leaders’ Summit brought together leaders and delegations from major economic hubs across the globe. The two-day summit facilitated high-level dialogue among world leaders under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability”, focusing on key global challenges, particularly those affecting the Global South.
Gaoganediwe said that with G20 countries accounting for more than 78% of the world’s population, South Africa has seen a 58% increase in international visitor arrivals from the Middle East this year. This, she said, highlighted the role of member countries in driving intra-travel, trade, cultural exchanges and people-to-people relations.
She also said that South Africa was making inroads into global markets in other sectors, citing increases in the country’s wine exports by 58%, and the global popularity of the Amapiano music genre. She said these trends, combined with a G20 declaration that emphasised fair and equitable financing mechanisms, positioned the country to generate “massive revenue”.
“Gauteng’s tourism outlook is boosted by the successful hosting of the G20 World Leaders’ Summit and improved air connectivity with key markets such as Germany, the UAE, Asia, and the Americas leading the charge,” Gaoganediwe said.
Transparent and fair metadata calculations from global platforms like YouTube and Google will go a long way in levelling the playing fields between global North and South content creators who are central in sharing and telling the destination story, she said.
She appealed for fair and transparent calculations and payments from social platforms like YouTube and Google, where creatives from both the global South and North are remunerated equally.
Gauteng MEC for Finance and Economic Development, Lebogang Maile, said that the side and network events, hosted by the City of Johannesburg to collaborate with the G20, provided a platform for the province to showcase to thousands of delegates the potential the city has in the tourism sector.
He said the successful hosting of the G20 made known the country’s ability to host major global events, and increased its chances of attracting global sporting events.
“Without a doubt, the excellent hosting of the G20 World Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg bodes well for the province, the city, and country’s bid for Formula 1 events from 2027, and further sets a blue-print in terms of preparations for the hosting of the Cricket World Cup in the same year, with Gauteng having more venues accredited than any other province,” Maile said.
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