Emerging tour operators receive training from Ugu South Coast Tourism
Rural areas and townships have some of the most exciting and unexplored treasures that are yet to be unearthed.
UGU South Coast Tourism organised a two-day tour operators’ management course for emerging and upcoming tour operators and entrepreneurs at Margate Hotel recently. Ugu South Coast Tourism general manager for tourism development, Mazethu Zondi, said tourism contributes nine percent to South Africa’s economy.
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“According to the latest Tourism and Migration Survey by StatsSA earlier this year, almost 3,5-million travellers passed through the South African ports of entry in August 2017. There was, however, a slight dip compared to 2016. The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) forecasts that this industry will contribute more to South Africa’s growth in 2018 than any other, at three percent more than in 2017,” said Ms Zondi.
She said that, with the sector employing one in every 10 employees across the board, it became imperative that government and municipalities put more effort into development of this industry, with a particular emphasis on areas in the hinterland that has largely been ignored.
“Ugu South Coast Tourism has a mandate and responsibility to bring about development which, in return, will bring the much-needed revenue into the local economy. It is for this reason that the agency organises training and development programmes for up and coming entrepreneurs. The idea is that this will bring in skills that enable them to start their own successful businesses, through continued mentorship. Such programmes are important as they encourage self-sufficiency while bringing about job opportunities right where communities are,” she said.
Ms Zondi said that rural areas and townships have some of the most exciting and unexplored treasures that are yet to be unearthed.
“This training aims to develop tour operators who will package these destinations so that they appeal to both local and international tourists. The participants come from all four local municipalities within Ugu District with the main focus on rural development. We are very passionate about rural and township tourism development.”
She added that they were proud to say that this group had a variety of expertise and they felt, if they could show as much enthusiasm in their businesses as they had shown during the training, there would be a multiplication of talent and skill in the previously disadvantaged communities.
“The participants will be expected to deliver undiluted experience of rural life so that they dispel the myths about rural people and how they go about their business. We are pleased that this cohort has organised itself into an association for cross-pollination of ideas and activities. The group has set itself a task of learning about the district as a whole so that they all become well-versed with developments within their areas of operation.”
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