One month into 2011, and the pace of life in Joburg is back in the full swing of summer, as Africa’s most exciting city gears up to host a full roster of world-class events, including Joburg Fashion Week, ATP SA Tennis Open and Meetings Africa, which all take place this month.

(Left: the JTC top team: Lumka Dlomo, Lindiwe Kwele and Nosizwe Mji)

Glorious, sparkling champagne weather is complimented by the lush greenery of the world’s largest manmade forest, as well as an abundance of business and leisure activities catering to a wide variety of audiences.

“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,” says JTC, CEO, Lindiwe Kwele.  “As with all our campaigns, this is aimed at boosting our domestic tourism base as it is the lifeblood of our industry.”

“On the sporting calendar we have the ATP SA Tennis Open to look forward to in February and 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, so please come armed with plenty of spending power.”

(Joburg - Africa’s most exciting city is THE place to be in 2011)

From ubuntu to bling, rediscover Joburg through its lifestyle, people, culture, music, the arts and fashion.

The prestigious AFI Joburg Fashion Week takes place from 15-19 February at a variety of iconic, culturally rich, visually unique and diverse inner-city locations where the city’s most talented designers will be showcasing their autumn and winter fashion lines. Designed to link designer and consumer, this event is a celebration of Jozi and its culture – reaching out to the people, while paying homage to the street.

In February, the city once again plays host to Meetings Africa, the continent’s premier annual business tourism expo, when the City of Gold looks forward to welcoming hosted buyers and business associates from around the globe – and entrenching Joburg’s position as the continent’s leading business tourism destination.

Business tourism is a key driver for tourism growth and development and Meetings Africa therefore remains a top priority for the JTC’s Convention & Events Bureau in its quest to increase Joburg’s market share. 

(Model and former Miss South Africa Tatum Keshwar with top designer David Tlale)

Over the past year, JTC has beefed up capacity significantly – establishing itself as a fully-fledged convention and events bureau with the objective of aggressively promoting Johannesburg as a premier business destination.

JTC is committed to increasing the city’s annual share of the global events out there on the bid circuit.

Now proudly taking its place as Africa’s second largest city, Joburg is growing at an unprecedented rate – constantly and continuously transforming itself. It is regarded not only as the economic hub of the continent, but also as offering a plethora of cultural, leisure, sporting, fashion and lifestyle activities that is transforming it into the number one choice for both leisure and business tourists.

Joburg’s legendary shopping, dining, entertainment and nightlife is complimented by fabulous weather as well as an astonishing array of facilities like spectacular golf courses, gyms, spas, and wellness centres.

(Joburg Fashion Week 2011 reflects the inner city of Joburg infused with fashion fever. Photo: Simon Deiner / SDR Photo)

Lindiwe Kwele says: “While our city may have been founded on a nugget of gold, it’s no longer our Stock Exchange or being the business epicenter for a continent alone that make us famous – rather it’s the diversity, vibrancy and warmth of our people, the countless cultures they represent and the infinite choices the city offers its citizens and visitors,”

“Jozi has become an eclectic mix of people and cultures that have combined over a century to deliver myriads of talent and services capable of enthralling even the most seasoned of cosmopolitan travelers – we invite visitors to stay, play and discover why those who live in Joburg love it – and those who visit our mighty city never forget it!”

Joburg – a digital paradise

To coincide with the height of the Joburg summer, City.Mobi has enhanced the facilities on its mobile guide to the City of Gold, joburg.city.mobi.

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.

During the South Africa World Cup, city.mobi provided detailed information about accommodation, attractions, dining, city guides, and transport information tailored for users on the go, and included the other host cities – Durban (durban.city.mobi ), Port Elizabeth (portelizabeth.city.mobi ), Bloemfontein (bloemfontein.mobi, Pretoria (pretoria.mobi ), Nelspruit (http://nelspruit.city.mobi ),
Polokwane (polokwane.city.mobi ), and Rustenburg (rustenburg.city.mobi ).

(Miss World contenders found city.mobi invaluable at Fifa 2010 in Johanessburg)

Joburg.City.Mobi offers 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.

Visit the JTC website www.joburgtourism.com for a comprehensive listing of the multitude of events taking place in Jozi.