SMMEs focus of this year’s Tourism Indaba
This year's Tourism Indaba will place a firm focus and have a special showcase of the sector’s Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs)
POLOKWANE – The trade show will be hosted from 7 to 9 May at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention (Durban ICC) and the Durban Exhibition Centre.
Senior public relations consultant, Dindi Kunene, says for the first time at Indaba, there will be a Hidden Gems Zone built to showcase products and services from 70 South African SMMEs.
Kunene says there will also be workshops facilitated to provide knowledge and tools on how to access the market and grow their businesses.
“The significant role that SMMEs play in the economic development of both developed and developing countries, and in this instance the growth of the tourism sector, is recognised and supported by South African Tourism (SA Tourism). The exhibiting SMMEs were selected for their uniqueness and authentic representation of South Africa as a destination. Of these, 20 focus on the adventure experience that the country offers,” she says.
“SA tourism is bringing 150 local hosted buyers who will meet with the SMMEs and have further opportunity at a SMME networking event to consolidate relations and business. The SMMEs also include 14 Lilizela Tourism Award winners. They won the coveted award which recognises product and service excellence in the tourism industry by showcasing and honouring their world class quality.”
On 8 May, one of the Indaba media briefing sessions, Media Talk, will also focus on SMMEs in the tourism industry with a panel discussion on the economics of tourism, examining the question of how tourism businesses impact on their local communities, and what government policies, processes and projects are currently in place to ensure the empowerment, development and the growth of small businesses.
The Media Talk panel will comprise of Dr Salifou Siddo, the CEO of Tourism Enterprise Partnership, Mmatšatši Ramawela, the CEO of Tourism Business Council of South Africa, and Michael Mabuyakhulu, the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs.
The panel will be facilitated by Power FM presenter, Andile Khumalo.
