OR Tambo Gears Up for Global Spotlight as 80% of G20 Delegates Touch Down in Joburg

South Africa’s busiest airport becomes the country’s storytelling stage and the new Smart Visitors Centre is the opening act.

When South Africa hosts the world, it has a way of pulling out all the stops and this weekend, OR Tambo International Airport will feel like the centre of the universe. With 80% of G20 delegates expected to arrive through its sliding doors, the country’s flagship airport is stepping into a moment it has quietly been preparing for all year.

On the eve of the summit, Airports Company South Africa’s regional general manager, Jabulani Khambule, summed it up simply:
“All the arrangements have been made, we are ready to welcome the guests.”

And if there was any doubt about readiness, the unveiling of the airport’s sleek new Smart Visitors Information Centre (VIC) made one thing clear: OR Tambo is not just receiving visitors, it’s showcasing South Africa’s confidence.

A Gateway, Not Just an Airport

Local travellers have long joked that OR Tambo is “the real border post,” the place where you feel South Africa’s pace, rhythm, and character before you even step outside. Khambule echoed this sentiment, describing the airport as “far more than just an airport; it is a gateway for millions.”

And this weekend, that gateway will welcome:

• 42 heads of state, and

• Thousands of delegates, staff, and media teams
  arriving for what has already been one of the most event-heavy G20 build-ups in recent years.

According to Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille, more than 135 business events, ministerial sessions, and working group meetings have taken place across all nine provinces since January, activity that has quietly fuelled local tourism and hospitality businesses.

De Lille was characteristically candid when reflecting on critics of the gathering:
“Never mind those who are throwing their toys out of the cot. We won’t miss you.”

Tourism Is Growing, Not Recovering

For years, the sector was defined by “post-Covid recovery,” a phrase many South Africans were happy to retire. De Lille agrees:
“We are past 2019. The sector is growing now, it’s no longer recovering.”

She backed the claim with solid numbers:

• 846,367 visitors arrived in September, up 26% year-on-year

• August arrivals grew by nearly 30%

• Between January and September, 7.6 million visitors entered SA, 1.1 million more than the same period last year

Those numbers aren’t abstract to Joburgers. Hotels from Rosebank to Sandton have reported packed rooms, shuttle companies are fully booked, and small tourism businesses, from township experiences to local eateries are preparing for one of their busiest weekends of the year.

Inside the New Smart Visitors Centre

The newly launched Smart Visitors Information Centre (VIC) isn’t just a pretty installation, it’s a signal of what South Africa wants tourism to look like in the next decade: modern, digital, and accessible.

De Lille put it plainly:
“It’s a one-stop shop that showcases our whole country, all nine provinces. Local is lekker. We must always think about our own people first.”

South African Tourism general manager Bronwen Auret framed it as a symbol of collaboration:
“The smart VIC represents the essence of what SA stands for: partnership, progress, and people.”

And for Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, CEO of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, the VIC is long overdue:
“Information at the right place and at the right time is what’s needed across the country.”
He sees it as a crucial tool for linking travellers with small businesses, communities, and lesser-known destinations a key part of tourism transformation.

Why This Matters, Beyond the Summit

SA loves a big international moment, from the 2010 World Cup to the BRICS Summit. But this weekend’s G20 feels different, less showpiece, more strategic. The conversation has shifted from what the world thinks of us to what the world can experience through us.

The launch of the VIC right before the G20 and the holiday travel season is no accident. It positions OR Tambo as:

• A tech-enabled hub

• A storytelling space for South African tourism

• A bridge between global visitors and local businesses

The vibe on social media reflects national pride:

“OR Tambo is glowing up again. Nice to see investment in visitors’ experience.”
“Good to see tourism numbers rising that’s jobs on the ground.”
“Now this is how you welcome the world. SA is showing confidence.”

And for many South Africans, this moment isn’t just about heads of state. It’s about reaffirming the power of tourism to lift communities, support entrepreneurs, and remind the world that this country still knows how to host like no other.

South Africa Is Ready

From the bustling arrivals hall to the polished new VIC screens waiting for curious travellers, OR Tambo is standing tall. And as the world touches down in Johannesburg this weekend, it won’t just be a summit, it will be a showcase of who we are right now: confident, modern, and ready to welcome millions.

{Source: The Citizen}

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