September is Tourism Month and it’s the ideal time of year to enjoy exploring and experiencing Johannesburg in all its vibrancy and diversity. With gorgeous late sunsets and sunny weather, springtime in Johannesburg offers an incredible calendar of festivals, carnivals, business, leisure and lifestyle events, showcasing the city at its very best.
Tourism Month is a celebration that highlights the importance of tourism and its invaluable contribution to South Africa’s economy. Culminating on UNWTO Tourism Day which takes place on 27 September, the theme for the 2015 celebrations is A million new experiences are a Sho’tleft Away and Johannesburg and its offerings sum up the theme perfectly.
The city was recently named winner of the 2015 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Destinations Award, an award that ranks the elite 1% of choice destinations, based on reviews from millions of travellers from around the globe to help other travellers choose the right destination for their perfect trip. In 2015 Johannesburg ranked twelfth on the Africa list out of 25 countries and fifth on the South Africa list out of 10.
Earlier this month the city was presented with the 2015 Arbour City Award by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, topping seven other municipalities including Cape Town, Tshwane and eThekwini. Johannesburg also dominates the newly released Top African Cities for Millionaires report released by New World Wealth and Afrasia Bank. The report reveals Johannesburg has the most dollar millionaires in Africa above Cairo, Lagos, Cape Town and Nairobi.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Development, Clr Ruby Mathang said the list of accolades confirmed Johannesburg as an all year round, global destination for business, sports, lifestyle and leisure.
“As we look forward to welcoming visitors to enjoy our remarkable city for various reasons, including the fabulous signature events which herald the beginning of spring, we’d like to remind them that Joburg is more than a stopover. To our business travellers, we’d like to remind them that there is so much more to Joburg than business. 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 on many levels.”
Tourism is an important economic sector for Johannesburg, which has a positive effect on the entire tourism value chain from accommodation providers to restaurants, transport companies, tour guides and curio shops.
Johannesburg has several arts and culture hotspots and events which offer a variety of experiences for local and international visitors alike. Visit the Maboneng Precinct for a nostalgic evening of film at the Bioscope, Vilakazi Street in Soweto for a glimpse into Johannesburg’s past or to Newtown and surrounds for bargain hunting and shopping – and so much more.
Visitors to Johannesburg are spoilt with a vast array of social, sports, entertainment and cultural offerings on offer. With over 9300 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.
