+27 (0)82 373 8415 info@sami.co.za Client Area login Assessment Form Visa Renewal Services


News Articles

Gauteng still to reach tourism potential

Source: Tourism Update, 11/06/2018


As a tourist guide who conducts tours in Gauteng every day, Johan van
Biljon, Chairman of the Institute of Professional Tourist Guides of
Southern Africa, says Johannesburg and, to a lesser degree, Pretoria,
do not enjoy the perception of being significant tourist cities.
As a result, tourists limit their stays to one, sometimes two nights
in Gauteng, and then head off to other attractions in South Africa,
such as the Kruger National Park or Cape Town.
Van Biljon says most tourists visit Soweto, as the political history
of former South African President, Nelson Mandela, is a major
drawcard. “The Apartheid Museum has probably got the greatest
reputation and is visited by all. Walking tours of the inner city are
also gaining quite a following and are generally well accepted.” He
says most major attractions are open seven days a week.
According to Van Biljon, most tourists are surprised when on tour in
Johannesburg, as they realise that the city offers a wide range of
activities and attractions, more than most expect. Furthermore, it is
close to areas such as Welgevonden, which is home to the Big Five.
Van Biljon says there are sometimes gaps in Johannesburg’s offering
for foodie lovers, as many restaurants have specific hours. “Try
finding a good restaurant open for lunch on a Monday,” he says.
While there are a variety of food markets that take place over the
weekends, such as Fourways Farmers Market in Johannesburg, many tours
do not accommodatethese weekend schedules and, as a result, tours are
conducted during week days. Visitors to the city may read about
facilities in Maboneng â€` such as the Living Room, which pumps over
the weekend â€` but are disappointed on Mondays to find they are
closed. Parking in the city is also often an issue for tour groups,
Johannesburg, Van Biljon believes, is not sufficiently accommodating
to tourism, and still has a long way to go in terms of development to
achieve its maximum potential.
“Johannesburg has great tourism products, but my thoughts are that
they are not marketed to full capacity, such as the heritage sites of
Constitution Hill in Braamfontein and Liliesleaf in Rivonia, which
honour the South African liberation movement,” concludes Van Biljon.
Mareike Pietzsch, Digital Marketing and Communication Specialist at
Giltedge says: “We always recommend that clients visiting
Johannesburg immerse themselves in the culture of South Africa.”
The Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, as well as Constitution Hill in
Braamfontein and the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory in Houghton
Estate, are a must-do says Pietzsch.
Furthermore, she suggests Liliesleaf Farm in Rivonia, previously a
refuge for apartheid struggle leaders who were forced to go
underground in 1960. Nowadays, it’s an impressive interactive museum
that documents the history of the liberation struggle. Another great
spot, according to Pietzsch, is 8115 Vilakazi Street in Soweto,
Mandela’s modest home before his arrest.
According to Pietzsch, Maboneng Precinct in east Johannesburg has a
lively vibe and travellers can enjoy strolling through the district
with its trendy restaurants, art and flagship stores. “Another spot
that is great but not as well-known is Alexandra Township, where
Nelson Mandela lived for a short time. Take a township tour with
Tour2.0 and get to know the heart of the community and eat some
traditional South African food.”


Search

Search

Latest News

  •    This was revealed in the 2025 Easter border operations report, which saw border management authority officials, saps officers and home affairs workers intensify efforts to prevent illegal travel into the country over the holiday period.JOHANNESBURG - Zimbabwean nationals have been identified as the leading individuals attempting to illegally gain entry into South Africa.... Read more...
  •    THE High Court has nullified the re-registration of a birth certificate for a child born out of wedlock, ordering the Registrar-General to strike it from the records.This ruling declared the birth certificate invalid, questioning the legality of attributing paternity to a deceased man decades after his death.The dispute arose from a contested inheritance involving the late Lazarus Mkudu’s estate.Teresiah Mkudu, the applicant, sought a declaratory order to invalidate Ruvimbo Manyonda’s birth certificate, issued nearly 20 years after Mkudu’s death.... Read more...
  •    Residents from 34 countries can now apply for a visa to South Africa online. There are now 34 countries that can apply for a visa to South Africa online, which National Treasury says will help attract more tourists and skills into the country.This was trumpeted in Wednesday`s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) as being one of the key successes of Operation Vulindlela. Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury to assist in the acceleration of critical reforms needed to accelerate the economy.... Read more...
  •    Residents from 34 countries can now apply for a visa to South Africa online. There are now 34 countries that can apply for a visa to South Africa online, which National Treasury says will help attract more tourists and skills into the country.This was trumpeted in Wednesday`s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) as being one of the key successes of Operation Vulindlela. Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury to assist in the acceleration of critical reforms needed to accelerate the economy.... Read more...
  •    Residents from 34 countries can now apply for a visa to South Africa online. There are now 34 countries that can apply for a visa to South Africa online, which National Treasury says will help attract more tourists and skills into the country.This was trumpeted in Wednesday`s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) as being one of the key successes of Operation Vulindlela. Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury to assist in the acceleration of critical reforms needed to accelerate the economy.... Read more...
  •    Residents from 34 countries can now apply for a visa to South Africa online. There are now 34 countries that can apply for a visa to South Africa online, which National Treasury says will help attract more tourists and skills into the country.This was trumpeted in Wednesday`s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) as being one of the key successes of Operation Vulindlela. Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury to assist in the acceleration of critical reforms needed to accelerate the economy.... Read more...
  •    Residents from 34 countries can now apply for a visa to South Africa online. There are now 34 countries that can apply for a visa to South Africa online, which National Treasury says will help attract more tourists and skills into the country.This was trumpeted in Wednesday`s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) as being one of the key successes of Operation Vulindlela. Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury to assist in the acceleration of critical reforms needed to accelerate the economy.... Read more...
  •    Residents from 34 countries can now apply for a visa to South Africa online. There are now 34 countries that can apply for a visa to South Africa online, which National Treasury says will help attract more tourists and skills into the country.This was trumpeted in Wednesday`s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) as being one of the key successes of Operation Vulindlela. Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury to assist in the acceleration of critical reforms needed to accelerate the economy.... Read more...
  •    Residents from 34 countries can now apply for a visa to South Africa online. There are now 34 countries that can apply for a visa to South Africa online, which National Treasury says will help attract more tourists and skills into the country.This was trumpeted in Wednesday`s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) as being one of the key successes of Operation Vulindlela. Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury to assist in the acceleration of critical reforms needed to accelerate the economy.... Read more...
  •    Residents from 34 countries can now apply for a visa to South Africa online. There are now 34 countries that can apply for a visa to South Africa online, which National Treasury says will help attract more tourists and skills into the country.This was trumpeted in Wednesday`s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) as being one of the key successes of Operation Vulindlela. Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury to assist in the acceleration of critical reforms needed to accelerate the economy.... Read more...
South Africa Immigration Company