Tourism Indaba to boost sector

The Limpopo Tourism Summit convened by MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (Ledet) Thabo Mokone at Protea Hotel Ranch Resort on Tuesday was aimed at boosting and positively shaping the province’s tourism sector
The summit saw tourism experts and academics making valuable contributions to provide answers to some of the challenges faced by the sector.

The indaba concluded on strategic innovations to grow the economy while also addressing societal challenges, including crime and safety, which have the ability to negatively impact on tourism in the province. Statistics displayed on the day revealed that Limpopo was currently occupying the top position as the most visited destination in the country on the domestic tourism front and the second spot in terms of international tourists attraction.
Ledet Deputy Director-General Kele Tlo­wane emphasised that stakeholders have to evaluate challenges that hinder the tourism sector in the province such as state of roads among others. She reminded that it was important to improve safety measures for tourists to feel free to visit.
Among the experts was Director Advisory Services at Binder Dijker Otte (BDO), Lee-Anne Bac who cautioned that xenophobic attacks and gender-based violence were some of the factors that affected the industry.
She put emphasis on the fact that insufficient unique experiences were also bad for the tourism sector and urged stakeholders to think out of the box.

Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za