Joint tourism marketing agreement to maximise development

The backbone of the joint marketing agreement will consist of product and destination packaging, collaboration on events and trade shows as well as shared collateral and online campaigns aimed at the international and domestic markets.

The joint marketing forum will see high-level collaboration on marketing and branding initiatives and knowledge exchange on an executive level. They will look at improved city branding and how the unique offering of all three cities are being presented and packaged to both domestic and international travellers.

Cities as brands

As South Africa's economic and tourism hubs, the three organisations agree that cities are the lead brands for countries. Cities are globally recognised as the prism through which countries are viewed and are described as a country's most durable assets. They have history, heritage and promising developmental futures. Out of the top 10 destinations in Tripadvisor's Readers Choice Awards, nine were cities, of which Cape Town took the number one spot.

"Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban tell three very different but complementary stories. I strongly believe that we add value to each other's leisure and business tourism offering and I think that this will also go a long way towards providing the prospective international traveller with a seamless impression of destination South Africa. The time has come for us to use creative and innovative ways to maximise the domestic and international leisure as well as business tourism potential, for all three cities," says Mariette du Toit-Helmbold, CEO of Cape Town Tourism.

Lindiwe Kwele, CEO of Johannesburg Tourism added, "All three cities have the confidence to define themselves in the minds of our markets. Johannesburg is a frontier city and personifies urban chic, achievement and a sophisticated energy. Durban is diverse; a leading port city that exemplifies warmth and tradition. Cape Town is a city of inspiration, hope and freedom with a rich cosmopolitan culture set against the backdrop of unprecedented natural beauty."

Phillip Sithole of eThekwini Municipality's Business Support and Tourism concluded, "One of the secrets of a winning destination is for cities to realize that we are brands; that we should harness our assets. Positive perception, unique identities, authentic experiences and a powerful story is the armoury of a successful city brand. The joint marketing agreement is a formal recognition of our synergies and will go a long way to present a conducive and integrated city tourism experience for both domestic and international travellers."

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