Northern Cape to host Provincial Tourism Conference, 20 - 21 Apr

5 April 2006

Northern Cape Department of Tourism, Environment and Conservation to host
first Provincial Tourism Conference, at Kimberley

* Media Briefing (Kimberley): Tuesday 18 April (invite, venue and times
TBA);
* Conference (Kimberley): Thursday to Friday, 20 to 21 April 2006 (venue TBC –
refer to Editor’s Notes for provisional times)

Northern Cape tourism development and investment opportunities are on
everyone’s lips as the Northern Cape Department of Tourism, Environment and
Conservation-hosted Northern Cape First Provincial Tourism Conference, draws
near. The Conference takes place at Kimberley between Thursday and Friday, 20
to 21 April 2006.

21 April, offers networking opportunities and jam-packed business investor
information sessions with development funding institutions, private developers
and senior government decision-makers, all of whom will be present at the same
forum – the ideal forum to explore development and investment opportunities
with South African and international decision-makers, ranging from funding
institutions and developers to government. Also present at the Conference will
be Northern Cape Premier Elizabeth Dipuo Peters who, together with the MEC for
Tourism, Environment and Conservation, Pieter Saaiman, will officially launch
the Northern Cape White Paper on the Development and Promotion of Tourism.

Many studies have been conducted during the past two years, relating to
building the Northern Cape tourism industry into an attractive investment
destination, as well as facilitating the process to make the Northern Cape a
more popular tourism destination. And what’s more, the conference format has
been purposefully designed to not merely serve as another talk shop, but rather
to act as a forum connecting the right people who can discuss specific
development and investment opportunities.

Delegates will include property developers, investors, black economic
empowerment (BEE) groups, development funding institutions, commercial banks,
investment bankers, pension fund investment managers, international donor
organisations, non-governmental organisations, entrepreneurs and small, medium
and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) with a passion for the tourism industry. Not only
will the conference afford an excellent networking platform to delegates: it is
anticipated that delegates will forge productive contacts and be exposed to
real development and investment opportunities.

Among stakeholders who have confirmed their presence at the conference are
the following prestigious stakeholders: De Beers; Grant Thornton; KPMG; South
African Airways (SAA); Airports Company of South Africa; Department of
Environmental Affairs and Tourism; South African Tourism; Tourism Business
Council of South Africa (TBCSA).

Speaking ahead of the Conference, Northern Cape Premier Elizabeth Dipuo
Peters was today quoted as saying the Northern Cape Tourism White Paper sets
out a clear and practical strategic framework for the development and promotion
of tourism in the Northern Cape. “It is fitting and timeous that Northern Cape
hosts its first Provincial Tourism Conference – what better platform to share
with our existing and potential partners in the public and private sector
guidelines which, through strategic win-win partnering, can greatly aid the
development of a vibrant and sustainable tourism industry in Northern Cape and
indeed beyond.”

Outlining targets set by his Department in terms of the White Paper’s 2015
vision for the Northern Cape, MEC for Tourism, Environment and Conservation,
Pieter Saaiman had the following to say, “We’ve set ourselves some high targets
and with the hosting of next month’s Conference, we take the first steps
towards cementing relationships that will help us along the path towards where
we aim to be – nothing less than the preferred adventure and ecotourism
destination in South Africa!”

Saaiman’s Department outlines the following targets to be achieved by
2015:
* Increase international visitor arrivals from 190 725 in 2005 to 411 742 by
2015, representing a compounded growth rate of 8% per annum;
* Increase international tourism earnings from R1.33 billion in 2005 to R2.85
billion by 2015;
* Increase domestic visitor trips from 879 328 in 2005 to 1 432 337 by 2015,
representing a compounded growth rate of 5% per annum;
* Increase domestic tourism earnings from R1.38 billion in 2005 to R2.25
billion by 2015;
* Create 40 534 additional jobs through tourism by 2015 (employing a formula of
one job per 10 additional foreign visitors and one job per 30 additional
domestic tourism trips attracted).

All eyes are on the diverse and enticing speaker schedule and with
high-level organisations such as those mentioned above laying proud claim to
their investment in the conference, it is inevitable that representatives from
international tourism investment circles have confirmed their presence.

The provisional programme outlines the likes of the following topics, all of
which tie back to the Northern Cape context: Commitment to Growth – Partnership
of Government and the Private Sector; Advancing Tourism Development in the
Northern Cape through Accelerated Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa
(AsgiSA); Northern Cape Tourism growth – Setting the Context; Economic Impact
of Tourism in the Northern Cape; Tourism investment opportunities in the
Northern Cape; Transformation of tourism in the Northern Cape – The role of and
the opportunities created by the BEE Scorecard; Karel Phentela , Ekhaya, ETEYA
Award Winner; Alignment of marketing and branding to increase tourism in the
Northern Cape; En-route to a new Northern Cape identity; Tourism opportunities
and challenges for 2010.

Stimulating (and no doubt business-generating) parallel speaker sessions
will be held. Panellists will discuss the all-important topic - Access to
tourism destinations in the Northern Cape.

A further parallel session will explore the crux of that great tourism
business growth catalyst: that of Financing Tourism development and growth
through partnerships, while another panel discussion will occur around the
topic Marketing and Branding of the Northern Cape. A separate panel discussion
will seek to discuss Developing Skills for Tourism Growth in the Province.

Also on the agenda is the topic: Best practices in tourism growth and
development - an international perspective. Conference proceedings will round
off on the business-generating topic Tourism investment opportunities -
unlocking the potential at local government level.

Premier Elizabeth Dipuo Peters concludes: “We in the Northern Cape have set
in place a clear plan and we are excited to be hosting this Conference - I’d
encourage any national or international stakeholder in the arena of tourism and
business investment to come talk to us at what promises to be time well spent –
not to mention new business forged!”

Conference enquiries or bookings can be made with Glenda Campbell on (021)
461 5735, or e-mail glenda@africanequations.co.za

Media interviews and images:
Contact Greta Wilson, Greta Wilson Publicity:
Email: greta@wam.co.za
Mobile: (083) 491 7236

Editor’s notes
Media wishing at any stage to tour selected portions of the Northern Cape:
kindly contact Greta Wilson greta@wam.co.za, indicating your areas of interest
(by region or topic).

Provisional Programme
xxx: Indicates Speaker TBA

Day one: 20 April 2006
Tabernacle, Dobbin Street

Delegates’ registration:
Foyer:
07h30 – 08h25: Registration and tea on arrival

Opening:
Main auditorium:
08h25 – 08h30: National Anthem
08h30 – 08h35: Opening prayer
08h35 – 08h45: Welcome

Main Plenary: 08h45 – 10h00:
08h45 – 08h55: Speaker: Mr Pieter Saaiman, Northern Cape MEC for Tourism,
Environment and Conservation: Purpose of the Conference
Introduction of Premier, Ms Dipuo Peters by the MEC, for Tourism, Environment
and Conservation, Mr Pieter W Saaiman
09h00 – 09h30: Keynote address:
Speaker: Ms Dipuo Peters, Premier of the Northern Cape
Commitment to Growth – Partnership of Government and the Private Sector
09h30 – 09h40: Ms Andrea Dondolo, Story teller,
09h40 – 10h00: Speaker: Speaker TBA. Advancing Tourism Development in the
Northern Cape through AsgiSA
10h00 – 10h30: Upstairs: Tea

Session Two: 10h30 – 13h00
Plenary:
10h30 – 11h00: Speaker: Speaker TBA. Northern Cape Tourism Growth (Setting the
Context)
11h00 – 11h15: Speaker: Speaker TBA. Economic Impact of Tourism in the Northern
Cape
11h15 – 11h30: Speaker: Speaker TBA. Tourism Investment opportunities in the
Northern Cape
11h 30 – 11h45: Speaker: Speaker TBA. Transformation of tourism in the Northern
Cape – The role of and the opportunities created by the BEE Scorecard
11h 45 – 11h55: Speaker: Speaker TBA. Ekhaya, ETEYA Award Winner
11h55 – 12h10: Speaker: Speaker TBA. Alignment of marketing and branding to
increase tourism in the Northern Cape
12h10 – 12h15: Speaker: Speaker TBA. En-route to new Northern Cape
identity
12h15 – 12h45: Speaker: Speaker TBA. Tourism opportunities and challenges for
2010
12h45 – 13h00: Speaker: Activity TBA.

13h00 – 14h00: Hall Outside: Lunch

Session Three: 14h00 - 16h30

Parallel Session One:
Room One: Main auditorium:

14h30 – 16h30: Access to tourism destinations in the Northern Cape
Chairperson
Panel: TBA: Chairperson TBA. Financing Tourism

Parallel Session Two:
Room Two: Main auditorium: Financing Tourism development and growth through
partnerships
Chairperson: TBA
Panel: TBA

Parallel Session Three:
Room Three: Main Auditorium
Chairperson: Speaker TBA. Marketing and Branding of the Northern Cape
Panel: TBA

Parallel Session Four:
Main Auditorium
Chairperson: Chairperson TBA. Developing Skills for Tourism Growth in the
Province
Panel: TBA

15h00 – 15h30: Afternoon Tea

16h30: End of first day
19h00: Gala Dinner, West End Club, Jim Summers Hall

Day Two: 21 April 2006
Tabernacle, Dobbin Street

Session One:
Main Plenary:
08h30 – 09h00: Chairperson: TBA
09h00 – 09h20: Speaker: TBA
09h20 – 09h40: Speaker: TBA
Speaker: Speaker TBA. The tourism investment opportunities- unlocking the
potential at local government level
09h40 – 10h20: Questions / Discussions
10h20 – 11h20: Feedback
11h20 – 11h30: Kimberley Declaration
11h30: Closing

Enquiries:
Greta Wilson
Greta Wilson Publicity:
Email: greta@wam.co.za
Cell: 083 491 7236

Issued by: Department of Tourism, Environment and Conservation, Northern
Cape Provincial Government
5 April 2006
Source: Northern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.northern-cape.gov.za/)