On 14 November, Joburg Tourism, a directorate with the City of Johannesburg’s Economic Development Department, launched their first-ever tourism kiosk in Sandton in partnership with Sandton Central.

According to the MMC for Economic Development, councillor Leah Knott, this is the first tourism kiosk of its kind and an extension of the City’s Tourism Ambassador programme which was launched at the end of May. “The City has also been able to garner full buy-in and support from the Sandton Central Business community, a public-private partnership that has certainly been to the benefit of the general public.”

The Sandton Central Joburg Tourism Ambassador, operating at the Sandton Gautrain station, will employ 12 youth and operate 24 hours a day with security able to use it as a policing spot after hours. ” This particular location is a very important entry point to Johannesburg for travellers and tourists,” said Knott

The primary role of Tourism Ambassadors is to enhance the dissemination of tourism information in Johannesburg. “Secondly, it is to link up in a collaborative manner with the JMPD, SAPS, organised citizenry safety structures, tourism associations and Joburg Tourism in order to make Joburg a safer and more accessible place to travel to,” she said.

The ambassadors were trained in and educated on tourism information, service excellence, communication and conflict management, by-laws, road safety and community patrolling. “As a result, we have placed 60 ambassadors in tourism hotspots right across Johanessburg. Of these, 12 have been allocated to various locations across Sandton,” Knott continued.

“Finally, I would like to thank Barry van Wyk, the marketing chair and Elaine Jack, the precinct manager of the Sandton Central Board for making the kiosk a reality,” she concluded.

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