South Africa Inspiring New Ways at the New York Times Travel Show

For South Africa, the continued focus on the US market as a critical tourism sector, is part of its global marketing efforts supported by the recent study by Grant Thornton published by Traveller 24, where the USA ranks amongst three international markets that have shown remarkable growth in numbers during 2016. The report indicates that visits from Germany improved by 22%, UK by 16% and the USA by 11%. Gauteng and Western Cape provinces emerge as international visitor destinations of choice, due to the luxury experiences the provinces offer.

For the past two decades have seen exciting development for the burgeoning and subsequent boom of the tourism industry in Joburg. Recorded visitor numbers indicate that things will not be slowing down any time soon. According to the sixth annual MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index released in November 2016, Johannesburg is the Most-Visited City in Africa for the fourth year running. With an estimated 3.6 million international overnight visitors in 2016, Johannesburg has seen a 6.2% increase on the previous year's 3.39 million visitors.

While a vast number of visitors arrive for business reasons or events, ever increasing numbers are staying to explore and experience Johannesburg's fascinatingly diverse, urban tourism and lifestyle scene. Statistics show that the African Markets visit Johannesburg for mainly business purposes and shopping. Overseas markets travel for holiday, business, visiting friends and relatives, or often have a combination of these. Johannesburg is truly an all year round global destination for business, sports, leisure, lifestyle, design, the arts, fashion and film. The city's legendary shopping, dining, entertainment and nightlife is complemented by fabulous weather as well as an astonishing array of facilities which add to its appeal as a destination.

The development of the tourism scene in Johannesburg over the past twenty years has seen a dramatic increase in the number of precincts, museums and attractions to highlight the city's fascinating story, developed by both the public and private sectors. Vilakazi Street in Soweto, the Maboneng Precinct to the east of the City, as well as Braamfontein further north, are just some of the lively neighborhoods and precincts which have come into their own over the past decade or more. Myriads of outstanding new heritage sites that have been brought into being include the Origins Centre at Wits University (linked to the Cradle for HumanKind at Maropeng in the West Rand), the Apartheid Museum at Gold Reef City, the award-winning Liliesfarm, the Hector Petersen and Chancellor House Museums and the epic Constitution Hill complex, home to South Africa's Constitutional Court.

These are just tip of the iceberg and a number of routes have been developed to take in the City's diversity in terms of themes and attractions, including arts, cuisine, Indian and Chinese heritage, adventure and nature.

So next time you plan your holiday or business trip, make South Africa, Johannesburg your destination of choice.

SOURCE Brand South Africa US

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