While thousands of visitors thronged through the gates of ITB Berlin, Johannesburg Tourism Company was taking a more relaxed approach, hosting an invitation only event at the South African embassy.

Guests were treated to presentations from leading members of the organisation, including JTC chief executive Lindiwe Kwele, as the destination recounted the successes of 2010 and look forward to the coming year.

Pictured: Lindiwe Kwele, chief executive of the Johannesburg Tourism Company, welcomes guests at ITB Berlin

While thoughts were still centred on the successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup in 2010, there is much to look forward to in Joburg – which has sought to position itself as the leading business destination in Africa in recent months.

Most recently the city hosted Meetings Africa, welcoming scores of exhibitors, buyers, tourists and journalists to the Sandton Convention Centre.

The event targets the business tourism industry, serving as a platform to market brands and countries, while exposing local and international buyers to the range of services and products in the southern Africa MICE industry.

Joburg Fashion Week was also another recent success.

Charge d’ Affaires of South Africa, Cassandra Mbuyane-Mokone, was on hand to celebrate with JTC chief executive Lindiwe Kwele

Sports tourism is also in place to occupy the coming months, as Ms Kwele explained: “Joburg Tourism Company’s summer destination activation campaign is designed to support and showcase the broad range of lifestyle options available to both visitors and locals.

“On the sporting calendar we have the Top Gear Live Prototype World Tour in April – not forgetting the host of international performers who will be visiting the city.

“Of course, summer is also the time to snap up bargains by the barrow-load at all our seasonal sales.”

Joburg is also celebrating success of another kind, having been nominated by the World Travel Awards as World’s Leading Tourist Board last year.

Lindiwe Kwele, chief executive of the Johannesburg Tourism Company, introduces Joburg at ITB Berlin with Charge d’ Affaires of South Africa Cassandra Mbuyane-Mokone

World.Mobi

With so much going on in the Johannesburg, City.Mobi is celebrating the success of its new guide to the destination. 

City.Mobi offers the most comprehensive mobile travel guides available, with over 800 cities in 200 countries listed. Each is developed by the City.Mobi team to combine into a single global travel directory.

However, each city retains its own mobile identity via a dedicated domain. Already on offer are Brussels.Mobi, Paris.Mobi, Sanfrancisco.Mobi and Sydney.Mobi.

Joburg.Mobi is the latest in this illustrious line up, offering click to call functionality – which means no scribbling down telephone numbers.

Most entries are also linked to websites where users can quickly access more detailed information if needed.

Other key features include information on accommodation, restaurants, attractions, entertainment, nightlife, shopping, and transport.

City.Mobi guides include user reviews and traveller utilities such as a translation guide, currency converter, news and local weather guide.