April 14, 2005
By Anish Abraham
TOURISM in Johannesburg has been given a boost with the launch of Walk and Talk Tours, a self-guided tour system that uses clear signs and a recorded commentary accessed via cell phones.
The brainchild of Beryl Porter, Walk and Talk Tours was officially launched in partnership with the Johannesburg Tourism Company (JTC) at a function at Sandown's Innisfree Park on Tuesday, 13 April.
Walk and Talk Tours uses an innovative method that involves well-placed signs along the route. These signs display a telephone number, which can be called to access short commentary on the particular site.
The self-guiding information system is designed for both local and international tourists and is available in eight languages - English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Zulu and Sotho.
Walk and Talk Tours have already completed their first route: starting from Sandton City and covering the "The Richest Square Mile in Africa".
Commentaries on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange, Nelson Mandela Square, Norscot Manor, the Sandton Convention Centre and other sites are available.
"Sandton is Johannesburg's premier commercial expansion point and is a monument to the glittering future where the construction crane has become the town's symbolic bird," says Porter.
"This initiative is clearly in line with the JTC's objective of exposing Johannesburg's beauties and places of interest," said the acting CEO of JTC, Eddy Khosa.
"Johannesburg has so much more to offer and Beryl's self guiding talk/tour system is playing a significant role in revitalising tourism in our Golden City," he added.
At the launch industry representatives were invited to take part in a mini walk, making their way through a labyrinth drawn on the ground by following the signs - "as with the labyrinth, the tours route map will lead you to the right place with accurate and informative signs".
Walking through the labyrinth, participants learnt more about some of South Africa's tourist destinations by listening to recorded commentary on Sandton, Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Walk and Talk Tours plans to expand the system to include Johannesburg's inner city, as well as Durban and Cape Town.
"The opportunities are endless and I would like to encourage everyone from the City Improvement Districts, tourism associations, and venues alike to join hands and create the best information system in the country," Porter said.
Director of the Central Johannesburg Partnership, Neil Fraser, likened the labyrinth to tourism in general. He said there was much still to unravel to achieve maximum exposure for the city's attractions.
"She (Beryl Porter) has done very well in combining her passions of walking and promoting the country," said Fraser.
For more information contact Walk and Talk Tours on 011 444 1639
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