This weekend, March 18-20, the Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA) will visit Gaborone on an international marketing drive to reintroduce destination Gauteng and its tourism, trade and investment offerings and opportunities to the Botswana market.
This market will #MeetSouthAfrica again following the closure of borders and the travel restrictions imposed by the rise in COVID-19 infections since 2020.
The weekend-long activation, #VisitGautengInBotswana, will start on Friday, March 18, at 09h30 with a Tourism and Investment Breakfast at Protea Hotel by Marriott Gaborone Masa Square. Guests will be addressed by the South African High Commissioner in Botswana, HE Ms TP Shope-Soumah.
GTA CEO Sthembiso Dlamini said: “The African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) vision of delivering on Africa's goal for inclusive and sustainable development and the recently adopted Gauteng Trade & Investment Strategy, together with the Growing Gauteng Together (GGT2030) vision, serves as key guidelines for the GTA and partners to start this economic reignition drive with our neighbours in the region.”
GTA says Batswana arrivals in Gauteng have contracted since 2019. However, there was growth among the 18-24 age group, which bodes well for a youthful province like Gauteng.
Hospitality, good service, and good infrastructure are stand-out features for Botswana’s tourists coming into Gauteng and this activation is intended to reinforce that positioning. Batswana visitors say the highlights of their visit to South Africa were beautiful scenery, visiting friends and relatives, value for money, a quality shopping experience and an abundance of business opportunities.
The GTA will use this opportunity to reconnect with the travel trade and investment partners, and promote signature events throughout the year.
