SEDIBENG.- The Sedibeng District Municipality’s (SDM) Local Economic Development (LED) and Tourism Department hosted a two-day Tourism Strategy Review Session at the Emerald Resort and Casino recently.

The session brought together South African Local Government Association (SALGA), the National Department of Tourism, Gauteng Tourism Authority, locals, cross border municipalities, and key stakeholders to develop a new approach to strengthening tourism in the Vaal.

Under the theme: “Re-positioning tourism for local economic growth and inclusive development,” the programme focused on aligning local strategies with national and provincial priorities, sharing best practices, and exploring models such as destination branding and township tourism.

Roundtable discussions covered vision refinement, action planning, and identifying funding partnerships for implementation.

The municipality said that it recognises tourism’s potential as a driver for socio-economic development and has embarked on a consultative process to formulate a tailored strategy aligned with the national and provincial goals.

SALGA facilitated participatory planning to ensure local government perspectives, while the National Department of Tourism provided policy guidance, capacity building, and technical support.

The Gauteng Tourism Authority contributed marketing expertise, market research, and destination branding guidance to position Sedibeng as an attractive domestic and international destination.

“It’s important to revive relationships with stakeholders and strengthen collaborations. Sedibeng wants to create people-first initiatives that give the region’s businesses opportunities to grow economically. That will guide the new tourism strategy,” said Khulu Mbongo, Director of Local Economic Development (LED) and Tourism.