The symposium was themed ”Cultivating Sustainable and Peaceful Communities and Nations through Tourism, Culture and Sport”.
In his welcoming address, Ekurhuleni Mayor Clr Mondli Gungubele said: “I am extremely proud that our city has been chosen as the host of the first edition of the symposium.
”This does not only help in profiling the region as a destination of choice for tourism and investment, but it also affords us an opportunity to share our history with the rest of the world.
“This symposium is a much-needed and welcome venture and, as such, the City of Ekurhuleni proudly joins the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, South African Tourism, South African Airways, Gauteng Tourism, Skál International and Now Media as a partner in this historical event.
“The Airport City of Ekurhuleni forms an important part of Gauteng’s economic engine room and is poised to shift into even higher gear.
“The value of an aerotropolis in connecting products and people to the global marketplace, done both faster and more efficiently, should be understood by competitive manufacturing companies in light of the fact that one third of international trade in monetary terms comprises goods and services transported by air.
