​Thembisa Shologu
Tourism continues to play a vital role in driving Gauteng's economic growth by attracting local and international visitors. 
Unpacking the #VisitiGAUTENG-Zwakala Festive Season campaign as well as the launch of the #HappySummer Campaign on Friday, Premier Panyaza Lesufi said the provincial government was determined to bid for and host high-impact significant events in the categories of sport, arts, culture to bring back the spirit of making Gauteng the destination of choice.
"Tourism is vital for Gauteng government. We are targeting to net almost R6.5 billion across our areas in the province during this period, and there are two challenges.
"The first one is that we get so many people coming here, but unfortunately, they do not stay here. They go to other destinations, and the second biggest challenge is that we have so many people migrating to other areas during December. Our tourism strategy is to keep them here," said Lesufi.
By May 2024, Gauteng stood out with an impressive R42.7 billion in tourism spending, commanding 50.7 percent of the total national tourism spending.
Lesufi said the province needed to be more creative in bidding for sports.
"We have just finalised an agreement with Minister Gayton Mackenzie to bring F1 [Formula 1] here, which will be enormous; there are huge numbers. 
"We also want to showcase our malls. I really believe we have beautiful malls as a province; we just need to promote them. 
"As a province, we need to bring in exciting new things that have developed rather than advertising old things when advertising Gauteng or Johannesburg. Hopefully, we will attract the numbers," he said. 
Lesufi thanked the University of Witwatersrand and Anglo-American for launching the Planetarian. The new Wits Anglo Digital Dome will open its doors to the public in February 2025.
"We have just launched something exciting and beautiful: the Planetarian, the future of tourism in Gauteng, with the University of Witwatersrand and Anglo-American. I want to thank them heartily for their investment. 
"It is the biggest new tourist attraction we have just launched in Gauteng. I can't wait; it is exciting and will be the next biggest thing in the Southern Hemisphere," boasted the premier.
He expressed his excitement about the upcoming G20 Heads of State summit next year but expressed concern about the level of crime in the province.
The province will take over as chairman on December 1, 2024. We must educate South Africans about the G20.
"The biggest, exciting thing is the G20 heads of state summit. It is coming here in Gauteng, the biggest market in which we can tilt our tourism investment. 
"I must be honest. If I have sleepless nights, it is because of the level of crime; it is uncontrollable. I doubt we have strategies and plans that can excite me to say at least we are turning the corner. It's tough, but we will win," Lesufi explained. 
Recently, Lesufi visited Egypt on an exchange programme where they would assist with the rejuvenation of Johannesburg.
The aim was to explore sustainable urban solutions for a better tomorrow. 
"Unfortunately, after we returned from Egypt, we asked ourselves whether we should rejuvenate or build a new Johannesburg entirely and set up a new Johannesburg just behind the main Johannesburg to such a debate that we are having.
"In the next 4 years, we just must change Johannesburg so that you get lost yourself. If we cannot do drastic things that need to be done, Egypt will overtake us," said Premier Lesufi.