OVERVIEW Tourism The Big
OVERVIEW Tourism The Big Four attract thousands of visitors. As the most significant contributor to South Africa’s economy, Johannesburg is unsurprisingly also home to many of the biggest conference and exhibition centres. In describing the many conferencing venues available in the city, the Joburg Tourism Company has a category called Big Four. In 2022, the Gauteng Provincial Government reported that it supported events that generated R7-billion which helped to create more than 17 000 opportunities to work. In his first State of the Province Address in February 2024, Premier Panyaza Lesufi noted the following tourism and hospitality highlights in the previous year: • nearly 8-million international arrivals • which generated more than R98-billion • nine airline routes to Gauteng reintroduced in 2023 GAUTENG’S BIG FOUR CONFERENCE VENUES VENUE LOCATION FEATURE Sandton Convention Centre Johannesburg Expo Centre Sandton, “Africa’s richest square mile” Nasrec, next to the FNB Stadium and on the edge of Soweto Near to 30 hotels with more than 1 300 four- and five-star rooms. Can accommodate up to 20 000 people. Gallagher Convention Centre Midrand 27 venues on 32 hectares. Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit & International Convention Centre, pictured Kyalami Multiple venues set within an FIA-rated Grand Prix circuit. SECTOR INSIGHT Nine airline routes have been reintroduced. Growing Gauteng Together (GGT2030) is a plan of action formulated by the Gauteng Provincial Government which intends to transform, modernise and industrialise the provincial economy. The expansion of the tourism sector is seen as one of the key methods of achieving those goals. Among the provincial government’s plans are positioning the Magaliesburg, Vaal River City and Suikersbosrand as destinations of choice. The last-named site in particular will be the subject of a public-private partnership and aspects will be commercialised. A campaign to encourage visitors will be launched to be called“ Visit Gauteng: Zwakala”. Meetings Africa 2024 was the 18th holding of this business events trade show. The Sandton Convention Centre was the venue for the event, hosted by South African Tourism. GAUTENG BUSINESS 2025 34 PHOTOS: Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit
OVERVIEW Hotels The Southern Sun brand has been revived. The announcement was made in 2022 that Tsogo Sun Hotels would be no more. The Southern Sun group is focussed on hotels, with no casinos in its 31-property Gauteng portfolio. These range from several SUN1 facilities for budget travellers to the luxury of the 75-room 54 on Bath in Rosebank. Nearby Sandton has seven Southern Sun properties, including the Sandton Sun and Sandton Towers. The Maslow Time Square, Pretoria, which also has conference facilities, is one of two Sun International hotels linked to casinos. The complex is pictured, below. Tsogo Sun, as distinct from the deactivated Tsogo Sun Hotels, has interests in casinos and gaming and runs seven hotels pairedwith casinos in Gauteng. These include the Silverstar Hotel inside the Silverstar Casino and Entertainment Complex in Mogale City, West Rand, and there are four hotels at Montecasino. Airlink, which ended its franchise agreement after SAA went into business rescue, has signed deals with Qatar Airways, Emirates and United Airlines, giving travellers easy access to a range of Southern African destinations and St Helena. Single-ticket arrangements and one-stop baggage check-ins will facilitate easier travel in a difficult time. Airlink also has a service that connects travellers with certain game lodges. Airlink boasts an ontime performance consistently better than 95%. Culture and history Heritage tourism is a strong component of the tourism offering in Gauteng. The Cradle of Humankind is a UNESCO World Heritage ONLINE RESOURCES Cradle of Humankind: www.maropeng.co.za Gauteng Tourism Authority: www.gauteng.net Johannesburg Tourism Company: www.joburgtourism.com Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit: www.kyalamigrandprixcircuit.com Site and attracts thousands of visitors every year to the interactive visitor’s centre at Maropeng. The Sterkfontein Caves have recently revealed astonishing finds, showing the origins of humanity through artefacts such as the 2.1-million-year-old skull known as Mrs Ples. The Origins Centre at the University of Witwatersrand provides more fascinating insights into the origins of mankind through art and science. The Centre hosts superb representations of Khoi and San rock art. History relating to the struggle against apartheid centres on attractions such as the moving exhibitions housed at the Apartheid Museum and the history of the battle for human rights and democracy embodied in Constitution Hill which is a living museum that tells the story of South Africa’s journey to the achievement of democracy in 1994. The site is a former prison and military fort that graphically illustrates South Africa’s difficult past but as the home to the country’s Constitutional Court, it is also a positive symbol of the battle for the rights of all citizens which was won. Freedom Park on Salvo Kop overlooking Pretoria also commemorates the struggle for freedom in South Africa but its narrative starts in the pre-colonial era. Freedom Park combines an examination of South Africa’s history with scenic beauty with superb views over the capital city, interactive exhibits and areas set aside for reflection. ■ PHOTO: Sun International 35 GAUTENG BUSINESS 2025
