Johannesburg, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has unveiled a series of transformative government programmes aimed at revitalising and boosting the province’s multi-layered economy. Speaking at a media briefing on key developments and decisions arising from the recent Executive Council meeting, Premier Lesufi provided updates on key programmes and issues affecting the golden province and emphasised the strategic role tourism plays in driving economic growth, job creation, and showcasing the rich cultural tapestry of Gauteng to both domestic and international visitors.
Premier reaffirmed Gauteng’s commitment to tackling the persistent challenges of crime and urban decay – key barriers to tourism growth. He emphasised that efforts to create a safer, cleaner, and more vibrant Gauteng are central to attracting visitors, stimulating economic activity, and positioning the province as a premier destination for both local and international travellers. “High levels of crime and grime affect our ability to leverage better the value and potential of tourism and the visitor economy broadly which includes sporting and the creative sector. It is a serious reputation and positive brand killer with effects impacting residents, visitors and the broader tourism revenue,” adds Lesufi. The revitalization of the CBD tasked to the Presidential Working Group will assist with improved safety and security and aesthetic improvements that will make the city more attractive and enjoyable for tourism.
The Premier underscored the importance of skills development as the backbone of a thriving tourism industry, noting that, “Tourism is a service industry and is highly dependent on skills to deliver a quality experience for our visitors.” To this end, the Gauteng Provincial Government has proposed strategic partnerships with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) to fund a massified skills development and job creation programme. These efforts will empower the province’s youth and unemployed, equipping them with the tools needed to contribute meaningfully to the formal economy. Included in this basket of skills development initiatives will be a targeted programme for the hospitality sector leveraging on food and beverage sub sectors, frontline concierge services and upskilling of the crime prevention warders on tourism information provisioning, basic tour guide programmes and the leveraging of our sporting and musical GP quality circuit.
In alignment with this vision, Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA) has been actively supporting youth and small businesses by offering programmes and platforms that enhance their entrepreneurial skills and prepare them to operate successfully within formal economic settings. This multi-pronged approach underscores the province’s commitment to inclusive growth and sustainable tourism development.
In a move that expands Gauteng’s economic footprint beyond national borders, the Premier announced a groundbreaking agreement between Gauteng and the People’s Republic of China’s Hunan Province. This partnership will open new trade avenues for local SMMEs, enabling the export of high-demand products such as nuts, rooibos tea, biltong, honey, moringa, and wine to a market of over 66 million people across 13 cities—without major trade restrictions. This strategic international collaboration stands to significantly bolster local business growth and enhance Gauteng’s global trade profile.
Directly linked to tourism is the trusted tour operators programme currently being implemented by national department of tourism focusing on China and India. Visitors’ numbers from China over the past years have increased tremendously and with the incorporation of our gambling, amusement park, scientific and paleo sciences attractions like the Planetarium and the reopening of the Sterkfontein Caves oils the golden province’s offerings especially for the Chinese market, explained GTA CEO Sthembiso Dlamini
As Gauteng positions itself as a leading destination for diverse tourism experiences – from heritage and business travel to music, sports, and wellness – the provincial government remains steadfast in its commitment to inclusive growth, safety, and innovation. This was showcased prominently at this year’s World Travel Market and Africa’s Travel Indaba in Cape Town and Durban. Under the banner of Destination GAUTENG. Through strategic partnerships, targeted skills development, and bold international trade engagements, Gauteng is not only shaping a resilient tourism sector but also laying the foundation for long-term economic transformation.
