| Pilgrims head to Jozi for Megafest |
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| Written by Lesego Madumo | |
| Thursday, 09 October 2008 | |
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Megafest International is expected to attract tens of thousands of people to Nasrec this weekend for two days of spiritual networking, learning and fun. 
Bishop T. D Jakes, the brains and driving force behind Megafestival
THE United States's biggest annual Christian spiritual convention - Megafest International - will be in Johannesburg this weekend, and is expected to draw thousands of visitors to its tourist attractions, and so boost revenue in the sector. It is the first time that the event is being hosted outside the US. "The event itself is aimed at giving back to the community," notes Lumka Dlomo, the business tourism executive at the Johannesburg Tourism Company (JTC). The company is a municipal-owned entity tasked with managing leisure and business tourism in Johannesburg. Dlomo says the festival is targeted at families, youngsters, and business people from all walks of life - believers and non-believers alike - giving them the opportunity to meet and mingle with believers from all over the world. Tourism industry stakeholders, such as accommodation establishments, restaurants, tour operators, and arts and craft creators and vendors, will get the opportunity to generate revenue. "City hotels and restaurants will benefit in terms of accommodation income," she adds. It is estimated that international tourists to South Africa spend on average R1 500 a day each on accommodation, and leisure, including food, entertainment and local transport, and about R2 000 a day on shopping. Jobs will also be created through the festival. "As well, [the Americans'] in-country business initiatives will create opportunities that will sustain jobs and create new jobs, as well as expose opportunities for entrepreneurs."
Bishop Jakes Jakes is the minister who created the Megafest. With Christianity and faith as its backbone, it will feature a series of workshops, seminars, speakers and musical performances by Grammy Award-winning artist Israel Houghton, gospel duo Mary-Mary and Yolanda Adams. Gates are open from 7am until 6pm on both days. Fuelling the musical line-up and representing Mzanzi will be gospel superstars such as multiple-award winning Joyous Celebration, SAMA-award winner Pastor Benjamin Dube, Hlengiwe Mhlaba, Mthunzi Ka Namba, SAMA-award winner Kabelo aka "Buga-Luv", and Kekeletso aka "KeKe" Phoofolo. There will also be comedy shows and exhibitions of religious books, arts, and crafts. "Joburgers and other people from across the country or the world who will be flocking to the city for the fest should expect an exciting two-day event," notes Dlomo. Megafest's social mission is to foster sustainable spiritual and business relationships between North America and South Africa. It is themed A life-changing experience. As a destination marketing organisation, JTC's role in supporting the event is to ensure that all visitors get the best experience during their stay in Joburg, so that they return or are Joburg ambassadors in their home towns, Dlomo asserts. In organising the event, the JTC has been responsible for ensuring that there is adequate information available for the delegates in terms of what to do, see and smell while here, she explains. "We have to get the small medium and micro enterprise tour operators, accommodation, vendors involved as the way of sharing tourism growth."
Spiritual impact More than 5 000 African-Americans are expected to attend the festival, which is described as a religious or faith gathering where pilgrims converge. It is regarded as a lucrative venture, and the JTC views it as a rapid and viable means to grow the tourism sector and create positive spin-offs for Joburg. The event is renowned for having set attendance and economic records around the world, including breaking a single-event attendance record of 90 000 people at the Georgia Dome, in Atlanta, in the US, and generating a little over $500-billion. More than 700 000 people of all ages, all cultures, and from all walks of life attended Megafest conferences in Atlanta in 2004, 2005 and 2006. It has had a positive impact on Atlanta's economy through attendees' travel and tourism dollars, Dlomo says. "We expect to have the same impact in Johannesburg." The JTC anticipates that the South African event will attract over 80 000 people, with attendees from the Southern African Development Community, inter-denominational churches, music ministries, local congregations, and others expected to attend. It is the JTC's mandate to grow and promote tourism in the city through positioning it as a premier world-class business and leisure tourism and mega events destination. By supporting Joburg's hotel, shopping, transport, and dining sectors and other attractions, Megafest International will help to boost the already thriving economy of Joburg and South Africa.
Transport "They have established partnerships with local bus and train companies and through those partnerships, they plan to encourage people to use public transport, which will provide further lift to the economic base," Dlomo explains. The event is tailored to go beyond the traditional church walls, and minister to the whole world, notes Jakes, on the Gauteng Tourism Authority website. It is Jakes's goal to minister to people throughout the world; Megafest enables him to work towards achieving this, through uniting people from all ethnicities, religions and cultures. "Megafest is one way of reaching and uniting people from all different races, cultures, and religions in a fun and family-filled unique way. Therefore, the aim is to take Megafest not just all over South Africa, but also all over the world," Dlomo highlights. It will feature a battery of spiritual activities comprising a conference at which Jakes will share the stage with other well-known speakers from North and South America, including Bishop John Francis, Bishop Noel Jones, Pastor Paula White, Bishop John Francis and Mensa Otabil, among others. Megafest International is the brain child of Jakes, a preacher and minister who created the festival for fellowship, spiritual rejuvenation and personal growth. "Megafest is a positive, family friendly experience that offers a wide variety of opportunities for growth, empowerment, and wholesome fun," reads a statement from the organisers.
Golf Day Hosted in association with the Gauteng Tourism Authority and South African Tourism, over 100 golfers are expected to take part. Religious tourism is big business; according to the World Tourism Organisation, which compiles world tourism rankings, over 300 million pilgrims visits the world's key religious sites every year. The festival's main conference will be held on Saturday, from 9am until 11.30am and on Sunday from 4pm until 6pm, when Jakes speaks. Tickets for the gathering have already sold out. Megafest International 2008 chose Johannesburg as its first international host destination outside the US because the city, as the largest and most populous metropolitan area in the country, is well-heeled and boasts the largest economy of any metropolitan region in sub-Saharan Africa. For more information about Megafest International or for the full programme, visit the Megafest website, or call Lumka Dlomo at the Johannesburg Tourism Company on 011 214 0700 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Related stories: Related links: |
