During the past 30 years your Government spoke of building an inclusive economy, reducing inequality, transforming local economies, recognizing black excellence, empowering the previously disadvantaged and creating an environment conducive enough to attract investments, and grow our various sectors especially the Tourism Sector.
Today, we are honored by continuous growth within the Tourism sector. We have hotels, Lodges, guest houses, entertainment facilities, fashion, beauty products, best outdoor tourism experiences, sports tourism and many other tourism sector related products inclusive of Besty Gin, by our very own Selogadi Bestina Rakgoale who has this year introduced a new 500ml bottle of Besty Gin.
Limpopo is the busiest province in South Africa during the Hunting Season. And remains highly competent fluctuating between 1st and 2nd positions with regard to receiving the most domestic guests every quarter.
So, let’s now talk about ‘Changing the Tourism Narrative’, let’s talk about Tourism Transformation. – I have already alluded that the Tourism environment in Limpopo is attractive enough and our competency is at international standards.
The question is, are we, as beneficiaries within the Sector, doing enough to continue stimulating the sector, are we doing enough to receive greater participation of our people across the District? if we are to maintain our vibrant Tourism Sector, these are questions we need to ask ourselves. These are pockets of opportunities we need to announce to our people and emerging entrepreneurs within the sector.
It is the simple initiatives usually ignored which are exactly what is needed for us to better the Tourism Sector, maximize profits and create the much needed jobs.
The tourism sector in Limpopo is viewed by the Seventh Administration as a critical sector for the transformation of the Provincial economy and earmarked to be one of the biggest employers in the Province.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am not saying all this just to seduce you, but our tourism sector has great potential for further job creation and enterprise development – especially for small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) – which in turn will address the distressingly high levels of unemployment.
However, it is now up to us to bring in a touch of culture within the tourism sector, to keep improving black excellence and black innovation, to sell our townships and rural setups, most importantly, to compete intensely with the previously existing narrative.
Programme Director, I am hopeful that the deliberations which will be taking place during this conference will not be only for the purpose of ticking boxes. The time for cheap talk and no action is long gone. We now need to act swiftly, bring about tangible changes and build the kind of tourism sector which will make any competitor jealous.