Gauteng has demonstrated its leadership in hosting high-impact events over the spring and summer season by increasingly leveraging its strong business positioning to mainstream leisure tourism offerings.
Tourism and Heritage Month in September set the tone with major events such as the DSTV Delicious International Food Music Festival and the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival attracting over 50 000 attendees collectively. Comic Con Africa alone brought in over 70 000 participants , making it one of Africas largest pop culture and gaming gatherings.
Sporting events like the Springboks versus New Zealand test match and the Red Bull Formula 1 Street Showdown in Sandton attracted over 20 000 spectators among a total of 490 000 event attendees in September. The economic impact was substantial, injecting R2.1 billion 109 million into Gautengs economy and increasing average visitor stay to 5.7 nights.
These arent just numbers they represent tangible benefits for our communities, entrepreneurs and small businesses, said Lebogang Maile , Gauteng MEC for Finance and Economic Development.
Transport and Pride Month in October celebrated the provinces inclusivity and connectivity. The Johannesburg Pride Parade and the return of M Fest at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit showcased Gautengs ability to host diverse and large-scale events.
