Gauteng poised for a R3.6 billion tourism boost from the G20 summit
Gauteng is poised for a major economic boost, with hotels fully booked and billions expected to flow into the province’s tourism and hospitality sectors.
Image: Independent Newspapers
As the world gets ready to descend on Johannesburg for the G20 Leaders’ Summit, Gauteng is poised for a major economic boost, with hotels fully booked and billions expected to flow into the province’s tourism and hospitality sectors.
The summit is set to start later this month, drawing global leaders, business delegations, and media from across the world. South Africa is presiding over the summit, marking the first time the event is held on African soil.
According to the Gauteng Tourism Authority, the event is set to deliver huge economic benefits for the province, with an estimated R3.6 billion expected to be generated through accommodation, transport, events, and other visitor-related spending.
“We are looking at something like R3.6 billion that will be generated from the provincial visitor economy. This is substantial because this is a corporate event. Therefore, people have pre-booked". Marketing and Communications Manager, Barba Gaoganediwe, said in an interview with the SABC.
Gaoganediwe explained that the economic benefits of the G20 Summit extend beyond just hotel bookings and the two days of the main event.
"This means that the tickets they’re using are corporate credit cards. That also means organised business formations will also be part of the actual procurement. But we know that the G20 Leaders Summit or any of the events of this nature, global events, don’t just go with the two days of the event. There’s a Social Summit that we will be hosting. It is a precursor to the G20 Leaders’ Summit.”
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