Limpopo Tourism Agency (LTA) Interim Chief Executive Officer, Bibi Kotsedi urged tourism Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) to work with the agency to take the industry to greater heights.
He was briefing the media at Tourism Indaba in Durban last week. Kotsedi said LTA is committed to supporting and empowering emerging tourism businesses in the province.
He said this year LTA brought 17 SMME’s and 15 established tourism business delegates to Africa’s biggest trade show to exhibit their products and to meet with buyers from other provinces and various countries.
Limpopo Tourism Agency Interim officials, Sina Maduana, Suzen Ramodike and Lulama Tshabalala at Indaba.
He said emerging tourism business owners who participated in this year’s Indaba will realise the benefits of exhibiting at the continent’s premier travel showcase.
“We assist in creating an environment that is conducive for the growth of the tourism industry and the economy of our province,” said Kotsedi
He said LTA’s ultimate goal is to improve and sustain the province status as one of the top tourism destinations in the country and to create much needed jobs.
Kotsedi urged South Africans to travel within the country and experience the beautiful tourism products on offer so that they can become tourism ambassadors.
He said over the past years, the marketing efforts at Indaba have constantly promoted the tourism clusters as part of positioning the province’s tourism offerings.
“After a rigorous series of planning and consultations, we have come up with a clear marketing plan and theme for this year. This year we highlighted Mega Conservation as the main marketing position supported by the rest of the clusters,” he said.
He said their concept for Indaba 2017 is centered on Mega Conservation cluster incorporating elements of other tourism clusters.
“The central thrust is to deliberately reaffirm Limpopo as a home of Mega Conservation,” he said.
Limpopo Tourism Agency board members Chief Solly Sekororo, Ben Mphahlele (LEDA MD), Bibi Kotsedi (LTA interim CEO), Dr Gladys Nethengwe and Papi Motene.
Limpopo Province has government owned game reserves as well as private sector led game reserves spread throughout the province which reinforces Limpopo as a leading destination in the country.
“We believe 2017 will be a good year to reclaim our status as the leading conserved region in South Africa. For Limpopo destination, Mega conservation is the main driver of spend and tourism arrivals for both domestic and international markets,” he added.
He further encouraged tourism business owners to work together with other stakeholders to make tourism inclusive and sustainable.
