The City of Johannesburg’s Department of Economic Development: Tourism directorate launched a Tourism Ambassador Programme at the Joburg Theatre in Braamfontein today 28 May 2019.
The key focus of this three-year programme is to deploy ambassadors to tourism sites to sell the City, dispel the notion that Joburg is unsafe and to create much-needed employment among the youth.
A total of 60 young, passionate and visibly excited Joburg Tourism Ambassadors from the City’s seven regions, some of whom boast university degrees, were inducted in the presence of the MMC for Economic Development, Cllr Leah Knott, the MMC for Social Development and Health Cllr Mpho Phalatse and City Manager Dr Ndivho Lukhwareni.
“Tourism remains an economic growth imperative on the City’s agenda. In line with the prioritisation of achieving increased visitor arrivals in the city and contributing towards the economic growth target of 5% by 2021, Joburg Tourism seeks ways to facilitate the tourism experience at sites and attractions in the City, rendering them safe, pleasant, informative and memorable,” said MMC Knott.
She added that the Tourism Ambassador Programme envisages making Johannesburg a safer destination, leading to an increased number of tourists visiting the City for both leisure and business.
The programme is run in partnership with the City’s Public Safety Department and national government’s Extended Public Works Programme. The ambassadors will go through training on by-laws, traffic safety, basic First Aid and hospitality courses. They will receive a R3 300 monthly stipend.
Speaking on behalf of the MMC for Public Safety, Cllr Michael Sun, who is away on business, the Strategic Advisor in the Public Safety Department, Taariq Kagee, said the City was working hard to change the perception that Joburg was unsafe.
“This is a proactive initiative, which is set to reduce the number of security incidents affecting tourists and residents. Secondly, the ambassadors will assist in providing tourism information to tourists and visitors.”
One of the ambassadors, Alexandra-based Nolwazi Nkosi thanked the City for throwing her a lifeline as she has been actively searching for a job without much success for the past five months after graduating with a communication degree from the University of Johannesburg.
