GAUTENG is gearing up to promote itself as one of the world's most sought after tourism destinations.
Yesterday 150 delegates from the tourism sector in Gauteng met with the department of economic development and other government agencies to find the best ways of establishing the province as an attractive holiday destination.
Addressing the 2011 Gauteng Tourism Summit, which ends today, Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane said the citizens of the province should be patriotic and celebrate the diversity and beauty of their province.
"It is the responsibility of the government to mobilise and develop a common goal. It all starts here in the Cradle of Humankind and the only street with two Nobel Peace Prize laureates is here. If you want to see a united nation come to Gauteng. Every nation that exists in the world is represented here," she said.
"The spirit of patriotism must not be an event but an everyday thing. During the World Cup, whether you were a conservative Afrikaner or a Zulu from Inquthu, you did not care. On football Friday, you wore your Bafana Bafana jersey."
Mokonyane said the citizens of the province had gone back to their old ways of quarrelling in traffic jams and not promoting the goodness of the province.
She said every citizen of Gauteng ought to travel the province and promote its attractions.
Qedani Mahlangu, Gauteng MEC for economic development, said her department was finding ways to use tourism to create jobs and stimulate economic development.
"We have just approved, through the premier in the executive council, a youth employment strategy that has elements targeting youths who are entrepreneurs, who want to be workers in the public and private sector, while encouraging young people in the industrial sector," she said.
Her department was bidding for international conferences that would help boost tourism.
Mokonyane and Mahlangu agreed that safety and security were a concern for people, but said a lot of it was based on attitudes among the citizens.
Gauteng in bid to lead in tourism
GAUTENG is gearing up to promote itself as one of the world's most sought after tourism destinations.
Yesterday 150 delegates from the tourism sector in Gauteng met with the department of economic development and other government agencies to find the best ways of establishing the province as an attractive holiday destination.
Addressing the 2011 Gauteng Tourism Summit, which ends today, Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane said the citizens of the province should be patriotic and celebrate the diversity and beauty of their province.
"It is the responsibility of the government to mobilise and develop a common goal. It all starts here in the Cradle of Humankind and the only street with two Nobel Peace Prize laureates is here. If you want to see a united nation come to Gauteng. Every nation that exists in the world is represented here," she said.
"The spirit of patriotism must not be an event but an everyday thing. During the World Cup, whether you were a conservative Afrikaner or a Zulu from Inquthu, you did not care. On football Friday, you wore your Bafana Bafana jersey."
Mokonyane said the citizens of the province had gone back to their old ways of quarrelling in traffic jams and not promoting the goodness of the province.
She said every citizen of Gauteng ought to travel the province and promote its attractions.
Qedani Mahlangu, Gauteng MEC for economic development, said her department was finding ways to use tourism to create jobs and stimulate economic development.
"We have just approved, through the premier in the executive council, a youth employment strategy that has elements targeting youths who are entrepreneurs, who want to be workers in the public and private sector, while encouraging young people in the industrial sector," she said.
Her department was bidding for international conferences that would help boost tourism.
Mokonyane and Mahlangu agreed that safety and security were a concern for people, but said a lot of it was based on attitudes among the citizens.
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