South African flag flies proudly at the Asia World Expo

Foreign Desk 

South Africa’s diverse cultural heritage and tourism was showcased during the International Culture, Tourism and Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition, Asia World Expo held in Hong Kong on 30 June- 2 July 2023. Various countries and regions were invited to showcase their unique cultures and invaluable intangible cultural heritage as well as tourism. Participating countries included Bangladesh, Belarus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, among other countries.

This event also provided an optimum platform to develop and contribute to cultural tourism so as to brighten up the future of tourism sector and was a great opportunity to position South Africa’s diverse culture and heritage to the Asian Market as well as promote cultural and people to people diplomacy. This international event attracted many relevant stakeholders including potential tourists from various parts of the region and the broader world.

During the opening ceremony, the Consul General Mojalefa Mogono (Hong Kong SAR, PRC and Macao SAR, PRC) gave an overview of South Africa’s cultural heritage, its unique world heritage sites, tourism as well as on investment opportunities in the tourism and culture sectors.

He gave an insightful glimpse into South Africa’s diverse and vibrant cultural heritage highlighting the country’s traditions, arts, and customs, leaving the attendees mesmerized by the depth and richness of South African cultural heritage. He also enlightened on the diverse South Africa’s tourism sector ranging from environmental tourism, game tourism, ocean tourism, mining tourism and cultural heritage tourism. He also had the honor of officiating at the Exhibition together with other dignitaries.

Invited guests got an opportunity to indulge in South Africa’s rich heritage through music, poetry and exhibitions. A promotional video on South Africa as a tourism and investment destination was played. Two of the renowned cultural musicians from South Africa, Dr Jessica Mbangeni and Ms Nonguquko Csana Mlaza shared South Africa’s culture through music and poetry. Their performances were one of the major highlights of the event which got a standing ovation from the attendees.

Kwantu Afrocentric exhibited South Africa’s arts and craft reflecting the diversity of South Africa cultural heritage whilst Ms Lerato Motau took the guests through the embroidery art experience of South Africa. Ms Perseverance Tshem, a tourism expert and owner of Hambolwethu Travelling Agency engaged and shared on South Africa’s tourism opportunities and on South Africa as a tourism destination.

The team from the Consulate was also available to attend to queries around investment opportunities in the culture and tourism sector of South Africa.