Gauteng Tourism, the official destination marketing agency for the Gauteng City Region has a new chief executive officer in charge following the redeployment of the former CEO to the Constitutional Hill late last year.
Siphiwe Sipho Ngwenya, the former CEO of the Gauteng Growth & Development Agency (GGDA) was confirmed by Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development Lebogang Maile as the new GTA chief executive with effect from 1 December 2015. Ngwenya brings in a wealth of experience and strategic management capabilities having formerly presided over the province’s Trade and Investment Promotions Agencyfor the past three years.
During his tenure there, he championed the merger of the then Blue IQ with Gauteng Economic Development Agency (GEDA) to form the current GGDA. Before his stint at GGDA Ngwenya was the Deputy Director General for Business Regulation and Governance at the Gauteng Department of Economic Development, a platform that shaped his insight into the management and promotion of sound relations between government agencies and its shareholder, a prerequisite for sound governance and heightened delivery on the task at hand.
In confirming his appointment, MEC Maile urged the new CEO to continue working hard in consolidating the city region’s standing as Africa’s leading business and leisure destination with breathtaking and countless township tourism offerings, world-class museums housing our rich political and cultural heritage and the birthplace of humankind.
In accepting his new challenge, the much travelled 49 year old Ngwenya promised to put into practice the dictates of the tourism white paper which states that tourism is private sector led, government supported and community based. “Township tourism products beneficiation and promotion, the drive to get local and international visitors to appreciate the significance of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site as our pilgrimage area, leveraging business tourism opportunities and the bidding and hosting of mega events in Gauteng will be our key focus working together with the industry players”, explained Ngwenya.
Ngwenya takes over from Ms Dawn Robertson who is now in charge of the repositioning of one of Gauteng’s Signature Collection Product, the Constitution Hill as its new CEO.Tourism in Gauteng continues to contribute around 4% to the total provincial workforce and its estimated 4% contribution to the Gross Domestic Product by Region and 9% overall nationally highlights the sector’s importance to the economy of Gauteng and the country. In hard numbers we are talking in excess of over 200,000 people employed by the sector, contributing in the region of R30bn per annum to the provincial economy.
Siphiwe is hard at work preparing to lead the province’s charges in hosting what promises to be another successful Meetings Africa 2016, an important gathering of Africa’s leading business tourism players, meetings, incentives, conferences and events planners, buyers and travel media that gathers annually in Johannesburg for the premiere business tourism lekgotla.
