Phelisa Mangcu has been appointed general manager responsible for Tourism Development at the Johannesburg Tourism Company.

Phelisa brings with her eleven years of local and international experience in the tourism marketing industry, working as far afield as New York and Washington DC.

Having completed her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Political Science at the University of Fort Hare in 1992, Phelisa moved overseas.

In 1995 she studied further and completed a Masters certificate in Tourism Destination Management at the George Washington University.

In 2003 she added a Master of Arts in Tourism Studies from Wits University to her graduate belt.

Professional highlights include having worked in the tourism and promotions office of the Washington DC Government, and Trump International Hotel and Tower in New York.

Back home Phelisa worked as Project Manager for Travel & Accommodation during the 7^th All Africa Games in 1999. She subsequently joined the Industrial Development Corporation as a Tourism Business Analyst and later as Corporate Social Investment Manager.

At The Johannesburg Tourism Company Phelisa will play a pivotal role in helping to develop and promote tourism to Johannesburg, positioning it as a major international business tourism destination.

“Working for JTC is an exciting challenge.  As one of the major cities in the world and an economic hub for Africa Johannesburg has to compete with other major cities for tourism business, that’s what makes it challenging. This means we must ensure that our tourism products are world class. This is where I can play a role having worked in the tourism industry abroad.”

“My continued interest in travel has given me valuable insight as to what other major cities are doing in developing their tourism industries. We need to create the emotional hooks, about what Johannesburg stands for and what statement it makes about the traveller who chooses Johannesburg as a business or leisure destination.”

She adds that the onus rests on all of South Africa’s destination marketers, at a local, provincial and national level, to work together in sync, to ensure that the country realises its full potential.

“One of my other challenges will be to bring tourism SMMEs into the mainstream industry by ensuring that they are developed and marketable. SMMEs have to benefit from the increased tourist spend too. Its all part of transforming the industry and creating jobs.”

In her spare time, Phelisa enjoys reading and watching DVD’s with her family. She has travelled extensively abroad.