Minister calls on country’s citizens to boost tourism

The minister of tourism, Mr Derek Hanekom has made a clarion call to citizens of the country to promote domestic tourism.

Hanekom said this during the media-hosting function held at Johannesburg’s Maboneng Precinct on August 26 to mark the launch of Tourism Month.

This year’s theme is “Tourism Transforming Lives”, hence Hanekom encouraged South Africans to get out and explore their beautiful and diverse country.

He explained that domestic tourism was an important focus area for the National Department of Tourism (NDT), which he deemed important for the long-term growth and sustainability of the industry.
He added that a big focus of the NDT was to increase its contribution to GDP, job creation and transformation.

“We are also focusing our efforts on using tourism to improve underdeveloped areas,” he said.
He further explained that to make it easier for people to visit Mandela sites and attractions, the sector had developed an interactive map of Madiba-inspired tourist attractions (www.mandela.southafrica.net). It highlights the sites and provides all the information necessary to help one plan a visit.

“To reach our target of 18-million domestic tourists by 2020, as set out in the National Tourism Sector Strategy, we will have to work hard to ensure that it is more affordable and accessible to all South Africans,” he said.

Hanekom added that the government had set up a R100-million budget for the 2015/16 financial year to bolster domestic-tourism marketing efforts, including the continued roll-out of the Nothing’s More Fun Than a Sho’t Left’ campaign (www.shotleft.co.za), which was launched at the start of Tourism Month last year.

This campaign drives home the message that travel in South Africa is fun, an investment in oneself and one’s relationships, and is accessible and affordable.

This year’s World Tourism Day will be celebrated in the Northern Cape on September 27 under the theme, “Tourism and Development in the Community”.
At the event, provinces were also urged to market their uniqueness.
“One can still drive or take a bus or taxi to your destination, travelling is not only boarding a flight,” added SA Tourism CEO, Mr Thulani Nzima.
“Make an effort and be a tourist in your own province, travelling is about rewarding yourself and exploring something new.
“Just spend a week in a trailer and do your own cooking. You will be amazed at how affordable is it,” he added