June 20, 2006
By Thabang Mokoka
PHELISA Mangcu, the new general manager responsible for tourism development at the Johannesburg Tourism Company (JTC), is driven by passion for the city.
"As one of the major cities in the world, and an economic hub for Africa, Johannesburg has to compete with other major cities for tourism business," she says. "This means we must ensure that our tourism products are world class."
Mangcu, who has two masters degrees in tourism, has a critical role in positioning Johannesburg as a major international business tourism destination. Working in the tourism industry abroad has given Mangcu "valuable insight as to what other major cities are doing in developing their tourism industries".
She says the City needs "to create emotional hooks" about what Johannesburg stands for and what it says about the traveller who chooses the city as a business or leisure destination.
Earlier this year, Johannesburg Tourism Company"s chief executive, Eddy Khosa, spoke about the company"s commitment to turning the city into a world-famous business and leisure tourism destination.
"We have recently been given a mandate by the Johannesburg City Council to add leisure tourism to our commitment to boosting business tourism to Destination Johannesburg," he said at the time.
The Johannesburg Tourism Company is a Section 21 company owned by the City with the aim of promoting tourism, both locally and internationally.
One of the company"s key challenges is to bring tourism SMMEs into the mainstream. "SMMEs also have to benefit from the increased amounts tourist spend. It"s all part of transforming the industry and creating jobs."
Mangcu worked as a project manager for travel and accommodation during the 7th All Africa Games in 1999 and later joined the Industrial Development Corporation as a tourism business analyst. She later became the corporate social investment manager. Mangcu has worked in both Washington DC and New York: for the Washington DC government and for the Trump corporation, at the Trump International Hotel and Tower.
Permission to use web site material
Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as:
- Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website
(www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency
(www.joburg.org.za)";
- If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original
article on this website;
- The name of the article's author is acknowledged;
-
The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill
in this brief online form).
Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 |
