Gauteng faced notable declines in domestic tourism spending. The province’s overnight tourism expenditure plummeted to R18.86 billion, marking a dramatic decrease of 45.8 percent.
In addition, holiday spending in Gauteng fell significantly to R7.22 billion, reflecting a sharp drop of 59.2 percent.
Lebogang Maile, Gauteng MEC for Finance & Economic Development, launched Gauteng’s Tourism Month Programme at the Sanctuary Mandela Hotel in Houghton, on Sunday.
He said the closure of iconic sites such as the SAB World of Beer Museum in Newtown, which is now a funeral parlour, contributed to a decline in visitor numbers.
The Sterkfontein caves facility is also closed.
“Tourism is a crucial sector in the South African and provincial economy and creates a multiplier effect that sees money spent by tourists circulating in the broader economy. It is for this reason that the Gauteng Provincial Government has identified tourism as one of the key sectors in the province and is investing significantly to ensure its growth and sustainability” said Maile.
Picture of Orlando Towers, Flickr