Limpopo celebrates tourism month
September is tourism month and the Limpopo Tourism Agency (LTA) and stakeholders are using it to attract tourists and look in to ways the industry can promote itself.
“This year’s theme is aimed at inspiring insightful discussions within the tourism industry to rethink the way business is done, its development and identifying sustainable opportunities for future growth” said Sello Maleka, acting CEO for LTA.
Maleka was speaking at the 2022 provincial Tourism Month launch, which took place recently at the Kalahari Waterfront in Thohoyando.
The theme is also promoted by United Nations of World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).
World Tourism Day, celebrated each year on September 27, is the global observance day fostering awareness of tourism’s social, cultural, political, and economic value and the contribution that the sector can make towards reaching sustainable development goals.
In South Africa, this is a month-long celebration aimed at highlighting the importance of the sector to the South African economy and encourage domestic tourism in line with the tourism sector recovery plan. “Now that the tourism industry is fully open and functional, it is time for the sector to do the most important things that we could not have done in the previous two years, its now time to rebuild, rebrand and recover as the tourism sector in the province and country,” added Maleka.
Also read: Mopani is open for tourism
Meanwhile the Greater Tzaneen Tourism Association (GTTA), is continuing with their ‘Go to Tzaneen’ initiative which encourages people to visit the town.
On Friday, September 9, GTTA, will be having a business and tourism professionals networking event at the Tzaneen Country Lodge.
The meeting is in line with this year’s theme, where the tourism fraternity re-evaluates how it does business and it will also serve as an opportunity to network and collaborate on a business level.
Chairperson of GTTA, Adri Kruger, told the Herald that the industry has been hard-hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We are focusing on the future of the tourism industry, especially in the context of agri-tourism, and our community tourism with an emphasis on sustainability.
“We also have a strong sports tourism industry to stand on, and we are taking it one day at a time, one association at a time.
“Let us support local businesses, local events, working on good relationships among all stakeholders being pro-active to change the tourism industry in the Greater Tzaneen district for the better,” she said.
Kruger concluded by encouraging people who are interested in being part of the association to send an email to adri@tznlodge.co.za.
For more on the Friday September 9 event that will be held at the Tzaneen Country Lodge from 18:00, send a WhatsApp to Lumka at 065 925 7926.
