Bojanala EDITION - Department of Tourism Edition...In this edition of Bojanala, we elaborate more on this initiative and I am of the view that you will find the information very interesting

BojanalaOctoberNovemberDecember

2013

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Collectively and Broadly Promoting Responsible and

Sustainable Tou

rism for Benefit of All

South Africans encouraged

to travel in their country

Glitz and glamour at

Lilizela Awards

Attracting the youth

into tourism

IN THIS ISSUE...

TOURISM Edition 04 October - December 2013

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NDT taking steps to encourage SouthAfricans to travel within their own country

Freedom Park polishes its tourism appeal

Glitz and glamour at Lilizela Awards in Tshwane

NDT empowers foreign Mission officialson the significance of tourism

Innovation critical to tourism growth and competitiveness

Challenges and opportunities for SA’s tourism industry

Department’s SRI initiative revivescommunity owned lodge in Free State

NTCE - Infusing youth into tourism industry

Improved air connectivity needed toenhance African countries’ tourism

41 South African beaches awarded Blue Flag status

Deputy Minister Xasa calls on tourismsector to work together with government

Unemployed youth graduate from WesternCape Tourism Ambassador Programme

ETEYA finalist offers unique travelpackages for the visually impaired

South Africa’s tourism at a glance

Message from government:Drive carefully this festive season

SA looking forward to hosting Indaba 2014

Editor in Chief

Jay Singh

Editor

Sello Molekwa

Assistant Editor

Shereen Gurannah

Contributors

Ntshekang Sekane

Mongezi Madyibi

Prudence Makuwa

Caleb Mabaso

Lazarus Masuku

Writers

Mmapula Makgamatha

Nnosa Sentholang

Photo credits

Eastern Cape Tourism

Lilizela Awards website

Airline Association of

Southern Africa

Wildlife and Environment

Society of South Africa

South African Tourism

Limpopo Tourism Agency

Layout & Production

Talking Heads Design & Print

HERITAGE OFFERINGSFOR DOMESTICTOURISTS: Freedom

Park offers a variety of culture andheritage in its revamped efforts toattract more domestic travellers.Domestic tourism is on the increasein the country.

Bojanala


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eason’s greetings and welcome toour last edition for the 2013calendar year. This is our last

edition of the 2013 year and most of ourstories are aligned to the mood andatmosphere of the holiday season, which isalready upon us. We enter this holidayseason encouraged by developments thatpoint to the increasing safety and qualitystandards of our tourist sites. As you will readin one of our articles, the 2013 InternationalBlue Flag Jury results announced that a totalof 41 beaches have been awarded Blue Flagstatus in South Africa this year. The Blue Flagprogramme is designed to increase soundenvironmental practices among tourists, localpopulations and beach management. Withthese kind of developments in our tourismsector, we are assured that our mission ofpromoting tourism growth and developmentin South Africa is on track.

In this edition we also take a look at ourcountry’s growing local and domestic tourismmarkets, major news updates from thetourism sector, as well as a small tourism

business operator in Mpumalanga who isgrowing from strength to strength. We alsotake a tour on some policy developments, inorder for you to understand more aboutgovernment’s efforts in regulating andstimulating our tourism sector. The NDT,through its campaigns and programmes, isencouraging people of South Africa to traveland explore their own country, and theDomestic Tourism Growth Strategy is set toensure that we stimulate the growth of ourdomestic tourism industry. Read more onthis on page 2.

Recently we had very interesting developmentsin the tourism sector, the most notable ofwhich was the NDT’s implementation of acadet training programme on tourism, forDepartment of Home Affairs’ (DHA) officialswho will be posted at South African missionsabroad. The training was a great initiative

and fulfilled an objective of the Memorandumof Understanding (MoU) the two departmentssigned in March 2012, in which NDT madean undertaking that it will provide training ontourism significance to the DHA frontline staffat South Africa’s missions abroad.DHAofficials are the first point of contact withtourists and can act as tourism conduits forthe country. Effects of the training theyreceived will go a long way in improving andpromoting relations between DHA officialsand potential tourists to South Africa, as wellas empowering DHA officials to maintain and project a positive destination image of South Africa. In this edition of Bojanala, weelaborate more on this initiative and I am ofthe view that you will find the informationvery interesting and important.

Enjoy the holidays and don’t forget to take atour with family and friends this festive season.

Bojanala

S Recently we had veryinteresting developments in

the tourism sector.


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he National Department of Tourism(NDT) is setting its sights onencouraging South Africans to

travel and explore their country, and hascoordinated a marketing strategy aimed atattracting marginalised groups such aspeople with disabilities, youth and pensioners,to participate in travel and tourism. The NDTrecently approved the Domestic Tourism

Growth Strategy (DTGS) to stimulate thegrowth of domestic tourism. The strategyaims to encourage the culture of localtravelling and tourism amongst the SouthAfrican society, especially the previouslydisadvantaged groups, and also to increasedomestic tourism expenditure, and enhancemeasures and efforts aimed at addressingseasonality and geographical spread. The

department conducted research throughAfrican Response, focusing on the popularand community-based stokvels, and theresearch indicated that there is a need formore tourism information to be disseminatedto the general public.

In a Social Tourism workshop that the NDThosted on 29 August 2013 – which was

NDT taking steps toencourage South Africansto travel within theirown country

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South Africa offers beautiful landscapes where tourists can explore and indulge in fun activities.

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Cultural entertainment has always been animportant part of good times in South Africa.

themed “Activating and development ofsocial tourism for the benefit of thepreviously disadvantaged communities inSouth Africa” - delegates and speakersagreed that there was a need for partnershipand collaboration with relevant local tourismstakeholders, which would enable effectiveinformation dissemination with a view toincreasing social tourism in South Africa. Themain objective of the workshop was tobrainstorm, and share ideas and informationon social tourism and on how best toimplement and promote it in South Africa.

The workshop was attended by bothprivate and public stakeholders. Variouselements that are critical to the growth ofdomestic tourism in general were discussed.Ms Beulah Mosupye from the NDT, made apresentation on the Overview of socialtourism in South Africa and its contributionto the Domestic Tourism Growth Strategy;Ms Thuli Mahlangu from the Department ofSocial Development presented herdepartment’s tourism-supporting initiatives,such as the golden games, where elderlypeople from different provinces participate in

sports activities; Ms Kathy Bergs of FairTrade Tourism presented on linkagesbetween fair trade and social tourism; while

Ms Wendy Alberts of the RestaurantAssociation of South Africa (RASA), and MrCaleb Mabaso of the Federated HospitalityAssociation of Southern Africa (FEDHASA)presented their organisations’ plans onsocial tourism.

The parties also reached consensus thatsocial tourism should be implemented andpromoted through existing governmentprogrammes. It must also contribute todomestic tourism initiatives such as jobcreation, investment and communityempowerment. Other initiatives that supportsocial tourism are implemented by FEDHASAhas also announced its own implementationof initiatives aimed at promoting socialtourism, such as ‘One million bed’, ‘RASA’initiative that enables its employees andpeople from local communities to enjoy the

cuisines that their hotels and otherestablishments prepare. The workshopdiscussed the legal framework of social

tourism; accessibility; savings; the socialtourism stakeholder analysis; infrastructure;social tourism activities; funding; marketingresearch and promotion; as well asmonitoring and evaluation. South Africa ispractising social tourism but needs a robust

marketing approach to promote it. Some ofthe key success factors in social tourismpromotion would be to develop affordablepackages for social tourism.

According to Deputy Director-General forDomestic Tourism Management, MsMorongoe Ramphele, organisations such as‘Gogo on Tour’ must be used asambassadors of social tourism. MsMorongoe also said there was a need toestablish networks with service providers tosupport social tourism activities.


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Bojanala

During December holidays, townships are abuzz with fun activities as they experience an increase in visitor numbers.

Social tourism should be promoted through existing government programmes.

Freedom Park polishesits tourism appeal

reedom Park is positioning itself asa destination of choice for domestictravellers and is planning big

initiatives to lure more domestic tourists inthe near future. For many years FreedomPark has been known to many people as amuseum for South Africa’s liberation historyand cultural heritage, but in the past fewyears, it has been quietly transforming itselfinto a notable tourist attraction destinationwhere international and local travellers canspend a day and couples and families can

spend quality time out of the bustle of thecity. Freedom Park’s Chief Executive Officer(CEO), Mr Fana Jiyane, told Bojanala thatthey will soon roll out a national marketingcampaign to sell the site as a touristdestination that offers more than lessons onthe country’s apartheid history. In recentyears, the Park has been divided into eightareas of natural beauty and heritagesignificance to allow visitors to havewonderful experiences and enjoy their time.

One of these areas is the Uitspanplek, anewly constructed beautiful spot wherevisitors can unwind after a tour and familiescan bring picnic baskets and relax in thesurroundings of nature. Another site of greatinterest, which was only recently built inside

the Park, is called //hapo, which is a Khoiword that means dream. The word was takenfrom a Khoi proverb that says: “A dream is nota dream until it is shared by the entirecommunity”. //hapo is a cave-like structurewhere visitors are gradually taken through awalk that tells of a Southern African storydating back 3.6 billion years in a narrative andinteractive way. It has more than 2500m2 ofexhibition space and offers visitors interestingvideos on the evolution of South Africa’sunique culture, heritage and history.

This year, more than 22,000 travellersvisited Freedom Park, and Mr Jiyane saysplans are underway to take the touristnumbers even higher. “We aim to take thenumbers to 59,000 by end of next year, andto 89,000 by the following year,” he said,before adding that the ultimate goal is toreach a total of 103,000 visitors by end of2016. Domestic tourists will be the mosttargeted market in the next three years andMr Jiyane revealed some of the day to dayattractions that the Park will offer to touristssoon, “We are planning to host jazz evenings,picnics, special family evenings for walk andtalk, and social gatherings for differentgroups,” he said. Of the 22,000 visitors whovisit Freedom Park annually, 95% are localtourists, but Jiyane says that they want to

attract even more South African visitors, “Wewant to focus more on the domestic marketand target more adults, families and alsoyoung couples. There is a lot of untappedlocal market and this festive season we aregoing to embark on a campaign to encourageGauteng people to visit Freedom Park”.

When visiting Freedom Park, visitors canlook forward to learning about South Africa’srich and colourful history, from creation to theissues of reconciliation and nation building.

The Park invites visitors to participate inperformances that tell stories of the country’shistoric developments. Situated close to thecapital city – Pretoria – Freedom Park standsas a memorial to the country’s freedom, butmore importantly, it stands as a beacon to guideall South Africans on the route of hope andpatriotism to a proudly united nation. Mr Jiyanesaid they are encouraging Gauteng people tovisit the Park with friends and families thisfestive season. “We can without a shadow ofdoubt, guarantee them an exciting experienceduring their stay at Freedom Park because thisplace appeals to families, touring groups andsocial groups. Freedom Park is open sevendays a week and offers guided tours three timeseach day. Entrance fees are R45 per adult andR25 for children and pensioners.

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The Sanctuary at Freedom Park.

Night and distant view of Freedom Park.


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he Lilizela Tourism Awards nationalwinners were announced duringTourism Month at a glitzy function at

the Tshwane Events Centre in Pretoria.Lilizela Awards celebrate the best of thetourism industry’s service records and act asa benchmark for excellence across thetourism sector. The awards were created tohonour outstanding contributions of tourismestablishments and individuals who are driving

innovation and delivering quality service andproducts. Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyksaid that the Lilizela Awards came about inresponse to his heartfelt need to acknowledgeexcellence in the tourism industry.

“Our visitors from abroad, as well as localtravellers have had fantastic experiences,and this is reflected in the ServiceExcellence category where visitors wereencouraged to vote” van Schalkwyk said,before adding that the Tourism GradingCouncil has worked to ensure thataccommodation establishments are on parwith global offerings. “I am incredibly proudto be part of an industry that has such highstandards and impeccable serviceexcellence records. Over the last fewmonths, we have been privy to someexceptional entries, all of which show thelevel of detail establishment owners go to,to ensure that visitors experience comfortand reliability. This is what sets our countryapart from the rest of the world,” vanSchalkwyk said.

More than one thousand entries werereceived for two categories of the LilizelaAwards – the ETEYA and Minister’s Awardscategories. The Minister’s Award is a distinct

category that was issued and will continueto be issued at the sole discretion of theMinister of Tourism. It seeks to honourrecipients who have made a noteworthylocal and global contribution to tourismeconomically and socially. The Minister’sAward is considered the cherry of theindustry and one that everyone in the sectoraspires to win. The Minister’s Award waspresented to Mr Jabu Mabuza as recognitionfor his exceptional contribution to the tourismsector. Mabuza played a leading role inTsogo Sun, which he has helped to build intoone of the top gaming and hotel groups inthe world, previously as Chief ExecutiveOfficer and today as Deputy Chairperson ofthe group’s Board.

In 2003 Mabuza was appointed to leadthe SA Tourism Board, contributing hiswealth of experience by strengthening andenhancing the partnership betweengovernment and the sector in order todeliver on the tourism promise. He hashelped to grow the industry into a majorcontributor to economic growth andemployment. He has led Tsogo Sun throughdifficult times of the 2008/2009 economiccrisis, and during the victorious delivery ofthe best FIFA World Cup in 2010.

Glitz and glamour atLilizela Awards in Tshwane

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Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk at the Lilizela Awards.

Lilizela Awards.

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he National Department of Tourism(NDT) and the Department ofHome Affairs (DHA) signed a

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) inMarch 2012 to identify and outline areas ofcooperation between these two departmentsin promoting tourism growth anddevelopment in South Africa. Training onTourism was identified as part of theimplementation plan of the MoU. In fulfilmentof this agreement, NDT held a trainingsession on tourism significance for theDepartment of Home Affairs’ (DHA) foreignstaff, who will be deployed at South AfricanMissions abroad. The training was held overtwo days in early October. DHA officials arethe first point of contact with potential tourists

and as such, act as tourism conduits forSouth Africa. This was after the departmentshad agreed in principle that as part of therolling out of the MoU, the Tourism trainingprogramme, which includes the ‘TourismInformation Session’ and the ‘Tourism Fundi’will be incorporated into the broader trainingof the DHA foreign officials. Tourism Funditraining is an initiative of South AfricanTourism (SAT).

Part of the training - which was facilitatedby SAT - concentrated on market research;social media and the South African TourismSpecialist course. The training programmealso included Tourism Service Excellence,which was presented by the Chief Directorate:Southern Region in the Domestic TourismBranch. The programme seeks to createawareness and empower DHA officials ontourism aspects and tourism development;improve and promote relations betweenDHA officials and the potential tourists toSouth Africa; instil the National TourismSector Strategy (NTSS) spirit of enhancedvisitor experience to the DHA officials;empower DHA officials in assisting inmarketing South Africa as a preferreddestination of choice; enhance InternationalRelations; empower DHA officials tomaintain and project a positive destinationimage of South Africa; and contribute tosustainable tourism growth, thus contributingto economic development and job creationin South Africa.

The general scope of training included theBasic concept of tourism; Economicsignificance of tourism; Significance of tourism growth in Africa; Challenges facingSouth African Missions abroad; TourismService Excellence; and the Tourism FundiProgramme. The training involved roleplaying sessions, wherein participantsassimilated practical scenarios facing thefunctioning of South Africa’s Missions

abroad. This was done to provide DHAMission officials with an opportunity toexperience the challenges they willexperience when posted at their respectiveMissions. In addition, this was to be used asa platform by DHA officials to providesolutions on how to render good service toprospective tourists and other travellers.There was consensus between all the parties involved on the need andsignificance of constant cooperation amongsttourism stakeholders.

Acting Deputy Director-General forLearning and Training at DHA, Mr. Stanley Mkhize said that the twodepartments need to work together to dealwith challenges experienced in the tourismindustry. Department of Tourism’s DeputyDirector-General for International TourismManagement, Ms. Aneme Malan emphasisedthe positive impact of tourism on theeconomy and the ability of the sector tocreate jobs.

NDT empowers foreignMission officials on thesignificance of tourism

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Workshop delegates busy with tasks during the workshop.

The general scope of training included the economic significance of tourism and challenges facing

South African Missions abroad.

Home Affairs officials during thetourism care training in October.


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nnovation is critical to SouthAfrica’s tourism growth andcompetitiveness domestically and

internationally. Growing initiatives such asthe Tourism Indaba, lifestyle and nichetourism, culture and heritage productofferings will boost our international arrivalsstatistics whilst benefitting South Africancommunities through job creation,” saidMinister of Tourism, Marthinus vanSchalkwyk. Speaking at a breakfast meetingin the North West province, the Ministerencouraged business owners andstakeholders from the tourism sector topartner with communities to drive domestictourism and foster a culture of travel.

The growth and outlook for domestictravel and tourism is optimistic. Currently,domestic tourism contributes R1.1 billiontowards South Africa’s GDP. Total touristspend went up from R9.2 billion in 2011 toan estimated R10.2 billion in 2012 due toan increase in average spending per tripfrom R870 compared to R690 in 2011.“Service excellence and the affordability oftravel and accommodation packages will go a long way to urging South Africans totravel and explore the country whilstfostering a culture of travel. I encourage all

stakeholders within the tourism sector topull together in order to drive domestictourism,” said van Schalkwyk.

The business breakfast was the first of anumber of events the Minister participatedin during his visit to the province. NDTpartnered with the North West province tohost a number of events in Potchefstroomand Klerksdorp preceding the WorldTourism Day celebrations on the 27th ofSeptember under the United Nations WorldTourism Organization (UNWTO) theme:“Tourism and Water: Protecting ourcommon future”. “Being afforded theopportunity to host the World Tourism Daycelebrations in Klerksdorp has enabled usto focus our attention on promoting theprovince with a particular focus on ourcultural and heritage products,” North WestMEC Motlalepula Rosho said. Tourism inthe North West is thriving and hasregistered positive growth over the years.Tourist destinations such as the VredefortDome, Taung Skull world heritage sites andThomeng continue to attract tourists to theNorth West despite water shortages anddrought. In the midst of these challenges,MEC Rosho painted an optimistic picture ofthe future prospects of tourism in the

province and assured the businesscommunity that the North West governmentwill continue to play its part in promotingtourism. “We as the North West governmentwill continue to work closely with theNational Department of Tourism, ourbusiness community and stakeholders tosupport the initiatives put in place topromote domestic tourism and addresshindrances to tourism growth,” said Rosho.

Innovation critical totourism growth and

competitiveness

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Various cultural innovations are also neededto boost tourism.

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Challenges andopportunities for SA’s

tourism industry

ervice level inconsistency, skillsretention and the need forintegrated transport systems are

some of the key challenges facing the traveland tourism industry in South Africa (SA).These were some of the issues thatemerged during a discussion betweenMmatsatsi Ramawela, CEO TourismBusiness Council SA (TBCSA) and Dawn

Robertson, CEO Gauteng Tourism.Ramawela said that while there werepockets of service excellence, SA neededconsistent service levels across the valuechain. “People in the sector needed toprovide service with a smile to ensure thebest visitor experience possible,” she said.

“The tourism sector battled to retain skilledpeople,” said Ramawela. She suggested thatthe trade needed to make sure people saw afuture for themselves in the industry in orderto address this issue. “We need to become asector that allows you to be proud andresonate what your country stands for,” shesaid. Both Ramawela and Robertsonemphasised the need to provide anintegrated transport system. “We don’t wantpotholes,” Ramawela added. She alsosuggested that SA faced the challenge ofbeing a long-haul destination for many keysource markets. For this reason, she said, SAneeded to address air connectivity and attractmore airlines. Moreover, she said, visa issuesnegatively impacted travel from countriessuch as China, which had been identified asa key source market. “Gauteng Tourism sawits role as providing an enabling environmentfor tourism businesses,” said Robertson. Sheadded that there was a need to make itsimpler for people to get investment.

According to Robertson, Gauteng Tourismhas assisted in cutting the red tape that wasneeded to facilitate the Hop on, Hop off tourbuses in Johannesburg. The association hadalso collaborated with the industry to puttogether the Gauteng Signature Collection,which was a collection of tourism products inthe province that would be used to attracttravellers and then disperse them to othertourism products.

“You create a product and we’ll help youtake it to the market,” she told the trade.Speaking about some of the opportunitieswithin the industry, Robertson said that if SAcontinued to grow visitor numbers, theindustry would overcome low occupancyrates. She added that the tourism industryneeded to capitalise on the ability of bloggersto act as influencers and embracetechnology. Robertson also emphasised thecrucial role played by SMMEs in the sector.“South Africa is blessed with many things,including vibrant sectors,” said Ramawela.She also highlighted the need for SouthAfricans to build the reputation of SA as atourism industry, arguing that South Africans often talked the country down. “Inthe next 10 years we’ll get our head around challenges,” Ramawela concluded.(Sources: Tourism Update)

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Great service and excellence are importantacross the tourism value chain.

These two towers in Soweto have become a popular sitefor diving adventurers.


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irector-General of the Departmentof Tourism (NDT), AmbassadorMakhubela, officially re-opened

the newly renovated Sentinel Chalets atWitsieshoek Mountain Lodge in the FreeState province in time for the start of the 2013holiday season. The facility – shut down in2010 as it had dilapidated into a state ofdisrepair and no longer receiving visitors –was given a new lease of life through the

Department of Tourism’s Social ResponsibilityImplementation (SRI) initiative. The chalets ofthe lodge, as well as its public premises andfacilities, are currently being renovated andrefurbished under the Expanded PublicWorks Programme (EPWP). The project wasfunded for an amount of R20.9 million.

Batlokoa community – owners of the lodge,entered into partnership with the Transfrontier

Parks Destinations, to access developmentfunds through NDT funded EPWP.Beneficiaries who were involved in the EPWPwere on two-year employment contracts, andreceived both accredited and non-accreditedtraining in the hospitality and constructionfields. The lodge will also be able to employpersonnel now that it is back in business. TheSRI unit is currently planning to roll-out furthertraining for the lodge’s management andpersonnel to ensure business sustainability.Ambassador Makhubela, flanked byrepresentatives of the Batlokoa community,officials of the Department of Tourism, andother stakeholders, officially unveiled thelodge’s plaque, which bore the chalets’ newname – Sentinel Chalets.

Department’s SRI initiativerevives community owned

lodge in Free State

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Proud beneficiaries of the Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge.

The facility – shut down in2010 after it had dilapidatedinto a state of disrepair andno longer receiving visitors –was given a new lease of lifethrough the Department of

Tourism’s Social ResponsibilityImplementation (SRI) initiative.

NDT’s Director-General, Ambassador Kingsley Makhubela (second fromright) with senior officials at the re-launch of the Witsieshoek lodge.

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n the past, tourism did not quickly springto mind when young people made lifedefining decisions about their career

paths. This has led to subsequent failure toattract suitable talent to the industry and theinability to retain the few that are inside theindustry. This was later confirmed in a studyconducted by the National Department ofTourism (NDT), the Federated HospitalityAssociation of Southern Africa (FEDHASA),and other key partners a few years ago. Thefindings prompted the industry into action anda long-term strategy was adopted to respondto issues that came up. The National TourismCareer Expo (NTCE) was conceptualised asone of the industry’s response to theshortcomings indicated. FEDHASA hasalways provided visible support for theinitiative on behalf of the entire tourismbusiness community. The 2013 NTCE wasdelivered successfully and preparations areunderway for the 2014 event.

This will ensure that the industry canbecome and remain at the forefront ofeconomic development and job creation inSouth Africa. This will in turn, ensure all

parties’ support for the National TourismSector Strategy. A key indicator of industryperformance in this regard, would beachievement of the set Growth DomesticProduct and job creation targets for 2020. Thisgreat target calls for the creation of a robusttalent pipeline that can be sustained into thefuture. The NTCE is one of the key tools thatcan be employed to deliver the message toyoung people. Also critical for the tourismsector to take keen interest in, is managementof the quality of the information that iscommunicated to young people. The damageis normally irreversible when people havebeen recipients of inaccurate informationabout the industry for an extended period oftime. Individuals who are put off by the natureof information they receive, will inevitably cuttheir interest in the industry, while some willbe attracted to the industry based on incorrectinformation. Benefits that young participantswill draw from the NTCE include:

• Educator Empowerment – Educators area key factor in these interactions and theyremain largely unempowered. Throughtheir participation in the programme, they

gain new useful insights into the industry.With the newfound knowledge and changein attitudes, they will play a far more crucialrole in educating and exciting youngpeople about the industry.

• Tourist Grooming – The country hasidentified domestic tourism as a keyelement in growing the industry andinsulating it from unpredictable globalinfluences. It therefore becomes importantthat the industry is sustained by locals.This is an excellent opportunity to startgrooming young people to becometourists in their own country. Theextended effect of this cannot beundermined, as any of the successfullyconverted potential tourists will talk tovarious other people in their networks.

FEDHASA has started, with some measureof success, to encourage its members toreplicate what happens at NTCE, in theirlocalities in order to extend the reach. For thestarting phase, this will be done with theacknowledgement of the limitation of anannual event taking place in one area.

Written by Caleb Mabaso – FEDHASAHead of Strategic Projects

NTCE - Infusing youth into tourism industry

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Tourism can become and remain at the forefront of economicdevelopment and job creation in South Africa.

Young people need to be attractedto the tourism career sector.


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UPCOMING TOURISM EVENTS

Date

02 December 2013

07 December 2013

07 December 2013

10 December 2013

13 December 2013

17 December 2013

09 March 2014

28 April 2014

10 May 2014

Event

Start of SA Holiday Season

Wavescape Film Festival

Friends of the Zoo Fun Run/Walk

Urban Rail Africa Conference

Soweto Festival of Lights

Holiday Course on Reptiles

Afrenco Tourism Exchange Expo

Africa Travel Week

Tourism Indaba

Province/Location

National

Cape Town

Pretoria

Cape Town

Soweto

Pretoria Zoo

Soweto

Cape Town

Durban

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The pathway at Freedom Park thatgives a good view of nature in the city.

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frican countries need extensiveairlift configurations that willconnect the continent to

mainstream air routes. Due to the lack ofthis air connectivity, African neighbours havebecome long-haul destinations to eachother, Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyksaid in his opening address to delegatesfrom the aviation sector, at the AirlinesAssociation of Southern Africa’s (AASA) 43rd

Annual General Assembly in SomersetWest in October. “In a mere two years fromnow, we will be at the crossing point where inbound tourism to emerging-marketdestinations will exceed that of theadvanced economies. This growth inemerging-market travel propensity will alsodrive new demand for aircraft,” the Minister

said. The twin trends of exponential growthin airlift connectivity and lower real cost ofair travel, create access to new destinationmarkets. The Minister also said that with theintroduction of e-visas and visas on mobilephones, it would be possible to significantlyboost tourism volumes and the sector’s jobcreation potential.

“Already there are over 600 million e-passports – micro chipped passports withyour biographic and biometric data issued bygovernments worldwide. By next year, weexpect 55% of all passports to be e-passports, and by 2020, this will likely beover 80%. Surely this is a moment to beseized,” he said. As a global sector, tourismhas grown exponentially over the past six

decades. Globally, 350 million newinternational tourist arrivals are expected by2020, and the number is expected to reach1.8 billion by 2030. A powerful tectonic shift isunderway as economic and political power ismoving from the North to the South and fromthe West to the East. Emerging markets areno longer just sourcing markets only, they aredestination countries also. Over the next 20years, international tourist arrivals inemerging-economy markets are expected togrow at double the pace of advanced-economy markets. The shift in geographicmarkets also overlaps with the megatrend ofurbanisation. By 2030, 60% of the world’spopulation is expected to have urbanised,which will transcend into at least a billion morecity dwellers than at present.

Improved air connectivity needed toenhance African countries’ tourism

A

s the holiday season starts, SouthAfrican and international touristswill be delighted to know that a

total of 41 beaches have been awarded BlueFlag status this year by the Wildlife andEnvironment Society of South Africa(WESSA). Furthermore, seven additionalbeaches have been given Pilot Blue Flag Sitestatus. Internationally, 3,849 beaches andmarinas have been awarded Blue Flag statusfor the 2013/14 season. In mid-OctoberMinister Marthinus van Schalkwyk launchedthe new Blue Flag Season 2013–2014 inRamsgate in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN)province. In order to ensure and promotequality water for inland and marine tourism,

the Blue Flag and Blue Drop Programmeswere introduced. Blue Flag is a programmethat promotes sustainable development inmarine areas and also encourages beachesto comply with the Bathing Water qualitystandards and good practices in coastalmanagement. This is to ensure environmentaleducation and information; environmentalmanagement; and safety and services.

“The South Coast is a very special jewelin the crown of KwaZulu-Natal. This isindeed a fitting venue for the event given thatthe KZN South Coast is the stronghold of theBlue Flag Programme in the province,” theminister said during the launch. Minister vanSchalkwyk further said South Africa shouldoptimise its tourism potential by offering bothdomestic and international visitors, clean,safe and well-managed beaches. “Attractivecoastal landscapes, such sandy beaches,dune areas, estuaries, and coastal lakes are

preferred sites for tourism development” theMinister remarked. The launch was hostedby the Hibiscus Coast Municipality. This year,South Africa celebrates its 13th year ofrunning the Blue Flag successfully. Thecountry celebrates the increase of Blue Flagbeaches from only three in the first year, to41 this year. Although the original focus ofthe international Blue Flag Programme wason encouraging beaches to comply withwater quality standards, it has sinceexpanded to take a holistic view of safety,amenities, cleanliness and environmentalmanagement issues. WESSA's Blue FlagProgramme has grown significantly over thepast two and a half years, with a 50% growthin the number of Blue Flag Sites over thepast two years. The Programme is now,more than ever before, in line with theInternational Blue Flag trend with anincreasing focus on environmental educationand the conservation of biodiversity.

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41 South African beaches awardedBlue Flag statusMinister van Schalkwyk raising a blue flag at the Ramsgate beach during the launch of the Blue Flag Programme in KZN.

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A passenger jet landsat the airport at sunset.

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eputy Minister Tokozile Xasaurged the tourism sector to worktogether with government to

capitalise on opportunities in the growingindustry. Addressing delegates at theinaugural South Africa Travel and Tourismsummit in Sandton last month, the DeputyMinister said the two stakeholders should

guide each other in developing strategiesthat will stimulate the tourism industry’sgrowth. “There should be transparencybetween government and the private sector,”she said, before adding that the two partiesmust focus mainly on long-term strategiesand planning. “There are opportunitiesaround infrastructure, electricity supply andtransport, which complete the travel valuechain,” she said.

The summit was hosted by the TourismBusiness Council South Africa (TBCSA) inpartnership with Gauteng Tourism under the

theme “Value of the traveller”. The mainobjective of the summit was to provide anational platform for debate and engagementwithin the South African travel and tourismindustry, and to appreciate the contribution oftravellers in the South African economy.“South African tourism has investmentpotential that can place the country among thetop tourism destinations in the world,” saidMatsatsi Ramawela, CEO of the TBCSA,during her address to the summit. DawnRobertson, CEO of Gauteng Tourism, said thetourism industry needed to unite and worktogether in order to achieve enormous growth.

Deputy Minister Xasa calls ontourism sector to work togetherwith government

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total of 300 unemployed youth recently graduated from the Western Cape Tourism

Ambassador Programme, in which theyreceived training on hospitality and tourism.The programme is one of the projects fundedby the Department’s Social ResponsibilityImplementation (SRI) initiative, which isbeing implemented through the ExpandedPublic Works Programme (EPWP). TheTourism Ambassador Programme’s aim is totrain unemployed young people in thehospitality and tourism field, and then havethem placed in some of the industry’s

establishments where they will receiveindustry exposure, workplace experienceand skills development.

This will then increase their chances ofgetting employment within the industry afterconclusion of their training. The graduatesreceived certificates in AccommodationService, NQF L2; Food and BeverageCertificate, NQF L4 and Customer Care Skills Programme, NQF L4. Graduationceremonies were clustered according todistrict municipalities, namely, Eden, CentralKaroo and Cape Town.

Of the intake of 350 learners who enrolled in the training, 300 graduated and95 got full-time employment following their training.

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Deputy Minister of Tourism, Tokozile Xasa.

The Tourism AmbassadorProgramme’s aim is to

train unemployed youngpeople in the hospitality and tourism field, and

then have them placed insome establishments.

Unemployed youth graduatefrom Western Cape Tourism

Ambassador Programme

Central Karoo graduates with executive mayor of George, Cllr EZ Njadu.


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twanano Tours and Travel is an emerging small businesslocated 13 km outside the

Kruger International Airport in Mbombela,Mpumalanga. Established in 2000, the tourcompany was nominated as a finalist in the2012/13 Emerging Tourism Entrepreneur ofthe Year Award (ETEYA). What distinguishesNtwanano Tours and Travel is the touroperator’s innovative packages that seek tocater for people of all needs andrequirements. Their travel packages includespecialised tours for the visually-impaired,known as the Braille Trails, which have beentailored to give visually-impaired individualsand unsighted people an opportunity toengage with the wonders of nature in asensory and sensual way.

Their packages include Flora KingdomTours, which includes visits to game parksand specialist organic growers of herbs andplants. The Genesis of Life Tour includes visitsto areas where the earliest traces of life onearth have been found, where the oldest goldwas mined, and where ancient fossils can beseen. Other products include transfers anddaily shuttle services. The company has a full-time staff of four. It has four vehicles anddeploys tour guides according to clientrequirements. Ntwanano Tours and Travel

has also been included as part of the TourismEnterprise Partnership (TEP) programme andaccording to the company’s owner Mr SertorioMshothola, this has given them anotherplatform to shine and opportunities to severalbenefits, which include training from travelexperts to run the business more effectively.

“They are helping me to spread themessage around the world that Mpumalangahas much more to offer than just the KrugerNational Park,” Mshothola said. He addedthat the local TEP cluster has also helpedhim to form a strategic alliance with wildlifeand birding experts, the Crowned EagleTours. “Kruger is an incredible place butthere are amazing things to see and do justoutside Kruger, yet overseas visitors justthink the Lowveld is all about the park,” hesaid. Ntwanano Tours and Travel waschosen from twenty seven finalists that wereannounced at the TEP workshop held duringthe Tourism Indaba in Durban early this year.Tourism businesses that are chosen for theETEYA awards are those that have provento significantly contribute to local economicempowerment, offer innovative products orservices, and have a sound business plan toensure continued growth and opportunity for expansion. As part of the ETEYAprogramme, the nine national finalists will

each be assigned a mentor to work with toimplement their business plans. Each finalistreceived a R10 000 grant for developmentof a sound business plan. The winningbusiness, Citi Hopper from the WesternCape was announced at the inauguralLilizela Tourism Awards held in September.Although Ntwanano Tours and Travel did notwin the ultimate prize, the small businesshas been motivated by their nomination, andcontinue to be a shining example ofemerging small business that contribute totourism growth in Mpumalanga.

ETEYA finalist offersunique travel packagesfor the visually impaired

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Visually impaired people took time out to interact with theBraille Trail during the tour.

A touch and feel of an elephant. The touristsalso got a chance to interact with elephants.

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overnment has reminded SouthAfricans of the importance of roadsafety as the holiday season

approaches. Government Communicationand Information System acting CEO PhumlaWilliams said drivers should use seatbelts,adjust their speed depending on road rules and conditions, keep safe followingdistances, and not talk or text on theirphones while driving.

She also reminded drivers that drinking anddriving is a criminal offence. The governmentof the Republic of South Africa is committedto halving the number of road deaths by2020, and is relying on motorists changingtheir behaviour to help realise this goal. Shethanked all South Africans, the transportindustry and the media for supporting andcarrying positive messages during October,which was transport month.

By the end of the current financial year,government would have invested more thanR5.5 billion on planning, building andoperating public transport networks in 13cities around the country.

"Going forward government will continue toinvest and develop the country's transportsystem to change lives and revitalise oureconomic landscape," said Williams.

South Africa’s tourismat a glance

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outh Africa's status as a premierglobal leisure destination is firmlyestablished. The country has the

capability and the means, the welcomingculture, the diversity and the scenic beauty that the world's travellers are lookingfor when they choose a destination.International tourist arrivals in South Africagrew by 10,2% year-on-year to almost 9,2million in 2012, more than double the globalaverage of around 4%. The biggest growth in2012 came from Asia and South America,driven by large increases in arrivals fromSouth Africa's BRICS partners Brazil, Indiaand China. From an African continentalperspective, Nigeria and Tanzania were twoof the continent's biggest growth marketsduring the past financial year, with touristarrivals from these two countries growing by37,5% and 45,8%, respectively.

Role playersSouth African Tourism (SAT)South African Tourism (SAT) is mandated tomarket South Africa internationally as a

preferred tourism destination, to maximisethe economic potential of tourism for thecountry and its people.

Tourism EnterprisePartnership (TEP)The Tourism Enterprise Partnership (TEP) isa non-profit company that facilitates thegrowth, development and sustainability ofsmall tourism businesses.

Tourism IndabaThe Tourism Indaba is an annual event thattakes place in Durban. It is one of the largesttourism marketing events in Africa and oneof the top three events of its kind in theworld. The event showcases a wide varietyof Southern Africa's best tourism products,and attracts thousands of local as well asinternational visitors and media from acrossthe world.

Meetings AfricaMeetings Africa is an annual exhibition thatserves as SAT's marketing platform to expose

local and international buyers to the range ofservices and products in Southern Africa.

Tourism Grading Council ofSouth Africa (TGCSA) In June 2012, the Minister of Tourism, MrMarthinus van Schalkwyk, announced theappointment of the new awards committeeof the Tourism Grading Council of SouthAfrica (TGCSA). About 1 160 propertieshave entered the tourism sector as lodges,guest houses or hotels after complying withTGCSA standards.

South Africa has eight worldheritage sites, namely:

• Robben Island;• iSimangaliso Wetland Park;• uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park;• Mapungubwe;• Sterkfontein Cradle of Humankind;• Cape Floral Kingrom;• Vredefort Dome; and• Richterveld culural and botanical landscape.

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Message from government: Drive carefullythis festive season

South Africa's landscape, mountains and beaches make the country a beautiful holiday destination.


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ndaba 2014 has been opened toexhibitors from all over Africa. It will berepositioned as a “genuinely pan-

African travel trade show that offers buyersthe best and the widest diversity of Africanproducts under one roof”. Chief ExecutiveOfficer of South African Tourism (SAT), MrThulani Nzima, said that as the hostcountry, South Africa is excited to unite withits fellow Africans to join forces and activelyraise the profile of the continent in the traveland tourism sector. SAT has promised thetourism industry an intensely business-focused Indaba 2014. Nzima was speakingto delegates at the Travel and TourismSummit in Johannesburg in October, whenhe explained that South African Tourismhad commenced a three-year journey tomake Indaba the vortex that fuels theSouthern African (and now rest of Africa)travel and tourism industry, ensuring itprovides the best possible environment tofacilitate quality meetings. Indaba, he said,was on an irrevocable path to being agenuinely pan-African travel trade showthat offers buyers the best and the widestdiversity of African product under one roof.In response to demand, South AfricanTourism had invited all of Africa to Indaba 2014.

“Indaba is the only true travel and tradeshow that is owned within Africa. As the hostcountry, South Africa is excited to unite with itsfellow Africans, to join forces and activelyraise the profile of our continent in the traveland tourism sector. International buyers don’tsee boarders, so we are expecting to improveboth the number and quality of Indaba buyersat Indaba as a result.” This year, buyers cameto Indaba from 77 countries around the world,and in 2014 this number is expected to grow.Indaba 2014 will give the world’s travel andtourism buyers an unequalled opportunity todo business with more than 1 600 Africanexhibitors, at a show that prides itself on beingthe biggest and broadest, must attend, mass-market travel trade show on the continent.

“The African continent,” he said, “isundergoing unprecedented growth in touristarrivals and global market interest. Accordingto the United Nations World TourismOrganisation’s “International Tourism in 2012– Key Trends and Outlook” report, averagegrowth to the African continent in 2012 was6%, second only to growth in the Asia Pacificregion (7%). Indaba 2013, Nzima said, wasattended by 2 341 local and internationalbuyers, 249 of who were top internationalbuyers hosted by South African Tourism.

“Indaba hosted buyers are carefully selectedagainst specified criteria. South AfricanTourism sources the best buyers fromaround the world, ensures they qualify, andinvites them to Indaba to work with theindustry, with the intention of benefitingeveryone’s bottom-line,” she said.

Indaba 2014 will attract more than 6 400leading professionals and companies tomeet and do business in Durban over thethree days. Already, more than 200exhibitors have reserved their space atIndaba 2014. South African Tourism expects3 000 influential global buyers to come toIndaba 2014. No less than 800 journalistsfrom all over the world are expected toattend, affording exciting media coverage tomany exhibitors. “We thank all Indabaexhibitors for their incredible support overthe decades and we assure all delegates ofour commitment to delivering an event everyyear that sets new standards in facilitatingbusiness, promoting eco-friendliness,ensuring a sense of community andpersonal interaction, all to make sure wedeliver a hard-working, twenty-first-centuryand business-focused travel trade show,”concluded Nzima.(Source: southafrica.net)

SA looking forward tohosting Indaba 2014

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We wish you a safe and

happy festive season, and

a prosperous new year!

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Bojanala EDITION - Department of Tourism Edition...In this edition of Bojanala, we elaborate more on this initiative and I am of the view that you will find the information very interesting