Rustenburg – In endeavor to solidify her department’s vision of transforming the tourism industry by promoting township and village tourism, North West MEC for Tourism, Desbo Mohono recently met with tour operators at the Devine Boutique Hotel in Geelhout, Rustenburg.
MEC Mohono said that in order to truly transform tourism in the province, there is a need for her department and tour operators to form partnerships. “We need forge partnerships which will yield much needed improvement within the tourism sector in our province. We need to think outside of the box and create new and endless possibilities. As tour operators who package these tours, we want you to work together with us in showcasing the potential this province has, government can’t do this alone,” she said.
“We need to have our guesthouses and bed and breakfast establishments graded correctly. We need to have a situation whereby major and popular hotels are able to refer their guests to village and township hospitality establishment where these guests can have a totally different tourism experience on how ordinary South Africans live in their township and villages, this is the transformation we want to see,” she said.
In addition, MEC Mohono said that her engagement with these tour operators was just the beginning of their journey together and she alluded that that she hopes her department and these tour operators will form a fruitful partnership.
Echoing her words was the Acting Head of Department, Charles Ndabeni who said that his department, under the stewardship of MEC Mohono, wants to change the knowledge infrastructure in the tourism sector.
“The model is going to change, we need your partnership as tour operators to sell these products to the relevant markets. In order to bring about that transformation, we will be traveling across the province meeting with all relevant stakeholders within our tourism industry to ensure that there is proper planning which is aligned to the department’s annual performance plan and strategy,” said Ndabeni.
Chairperson of the North West Tour Operators Association, Kagiso Legobe welcomed MEC’s vision for partnership in transforming the tourism sector. He said that as tour operators they also want to be given an opportunity to make a valuable impact on the transformation within the sector. “On behalf of the association I would like to thank the MEC for engaging us on her plans for the department, we see that she has good intentions and we are also ready to form these kind of partnerships with government to advance the course of transforming the tourism sector in the province,” he said.
For enquiries:
Dineo Lolokwane, Spokesperson
Cell: 072 542 8444
Tel: 018 388 2081
E-mail: dlolokwane@nwpg.gov.za
