Gauteng Tourism stages thrilling festivities
AS THE curtain comes down on another year, the Gauteng City Region will be abuzz this festive season with activities for every age and taste going into the New Year. Over the festive month, the #GPFestiveSummer drive will bring a calendar of bumper events set to provide Gautengers and visitors with a vibrant experience.
The hosting of quality global events is part of the Gauteng Tourism Authority’s destination marketing strategy to increase visits to the city region. Among other GP events is the Makhelwane festival from December 13 to 15 promising another exciting and entertaining instalment of what’s grown to be a proudly #GPLifestyle event at Poka Street, Orlando West.
On Christmas Day, thousands are expected to flock to the second-biggest township in the province, Tembisa, for the annual DJ Shimza One-Man Show. This event represents the key success of the province’s township economy revitilisation programme, and has cemented its place in the national entertainment calendar. Following hot on the heels of the one-man show will be the globally renowned Afropunk Festival, which is set to wrap up the year as the city’s pre-eminent New Year’s Eve event on December 30/31 at Constitution Hill.
The festival is a creative and diverse outpouring of live music, film, fashion, art and craft with a variety of food stalls produced by locals and attended by tens of thousands of festivalgoers.
Gautengers can also make the most of family time on the open-top City Sightseeing Red Bus and take a tour of some of Joburg’s most famous landmarks. The children can cool off at the newly-opened Happy Island Water Park in Muldersdrift, then get out into the countryside and experience an adventure at the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage site. Foodies and those up for a vibrant atmosphere or a buzzing nightlife, rest assured, there’s no shortage of both dining and hangout spots in Gauteng.
While the festive period brings joy, it unfortunately also sees a rise in criminal activities. Consistent with Gauteng Premier David Makhura’s call to reduce the incidence of crime, initiatives have been put in place to boost a safer visitor experience.
Operation “Okae Molao” launched earlier in the year, will deploy a multi-disciplinary approach – from enhanced visibility at holiday destinations to establishing road blocks at strategic points to curb crime.
The national tourism monitors programme will continue to station tourism monitors at Gauteng’s visitor hot spots. The deployed tourism officers will assist with safety issues, but also provide tourism information.
Follow events on twitter @visitgauteng, facebook at ilovegauteng and the Gauteng Tourism Authority on Instagram, #visitgauteng #GPLifestyle, #GPshotleft, #Gautengmeansbusiness or www.gauteng.net.