10 April, 2003

Press Release

PROMINENT EXECUTIVE TO HEAD UP NEW CITY TOURISM COMPANY

The City of Johannesburg has struck a strategic partnership with the city's tourism industry that will see the executive director of the Sandton Convention Centre seconded to the City's newly-established Johannesburg Tourism Company.

Deon Viljoen takes up his role as Chief Executive Officer of the new tourism company in April 2003. The Johannesburg Tourism Company will have four primary functions - operating a Convention and Incentives Bureau and a Visitors and Tourism Information Bureau, developing and co-ordinating a city-wide tourism marketing programme and tourism research. The City has committed a minimum budget of R12 million over the next three years to the Company.

Viljoen is a former executive director of the Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (FEDHASA) and has served on a number of other industry boards, including the Tourism Business Council of SA, the Hospitality Industries Training Board and the Exhibition Association of SA. He has just been appointed president of the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industries (JCCI). During the past two and a half years he has headed up the successful launch and establishment of the Sandton Convention Centre and was the driving force in establishing the Sandton Tourism Association.

Joburg Mayoral Committee member responsible for Finance and Economic Development Councillor Kenny Fihla says the move shows renewed commitment by the private sector towards growing tourism in the City. "The establishment of a new company to facilitate the involvement of the private sector in the City's tourism initiatives also shows our commitment to supporting the private sector and increasing tourism growth that will be mutually beneficial," he says.

"We are particularly excited that Southern Sun has agreed to second a person of the stature of Deon Viljoen to head up The Johannesburg Tourism Company. The experience he brings as a senior executive and the knowledge he has of the tourism industry will, we believe, be significant in leap-frogging the establishment and development of the company and growing tourism in general in the City."

Viljoen says he is looking forward to the new challenge. "I will be encouraging the tourism stakeholders in the private sector in Joburg to play a role as active partners in growing the tourism economy. My experience is that the stakeholders in the tourism industry are ready to support these developments to help fulfil the full potential tourism as a pillar of the economy offers the people of Joburg."

Issued: 10 April 2003

For further information please contact:

Deon Viljoen
CEO, The Johannesburg Tourism Company
Phone: 082 902 5874
Email: deonVil@joburg.org.za

Mandy Jean Woods
Director: Tourism and Marketing
City of Johannesburg
Phone: 082 553 4211
Email: selmal@joburg.org.za

ENDS