124!Main!Street,! Marshalltown,! Johannesburg!2113!
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For$immediate$release$
To:!Business!News!Editors,!Economic!Reporters,!Travel!and!Tourism!News!Editors! Media!Release!
Wed.!24th!February!2016!
Gauteng!to!host!the!first!township!tourism!SME!Indaba!
Soweto, Gauteng Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) development and support is once again taking centre stage in the golden city region as the Gauteng Tourism Authority stages the first Gauteng SME Tourism Indaba in Kliptown, Soweto, at the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication from 29 February to 1 March.
The indaba will showcase the products and experiences of emerging travel industry entrepreneurs in selected township hubs to established operators in the in-bound industry, such as big tour operators and the travel trade. This will give SMEs the opportunity to share in the benefits of international tourism by selling and packaging experience and methodology.
The indaba will comprise elements of speed marketing as well as familiarisation tours of products in the neighbourhoods of Soweto, Alexandra and Fordsburg with more than 60 township tourism SMEs interacting with 40 key international and national travel trade partners.
The programme will include a debate on the pertinent subject of the transformation of the tourism industry. Some of the industry’s more vocal thought leaders will be participating together with the Gauteng township enterprises.
The Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA) is partnering with the Southern African Tourism Services Association (SATSA), the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller and the city of Johannesburg for the indaba It is in line with the provincial government’s development plan and its aim to rejuvenate township economies.
GTA CEO, Siphiwe Ngwenya, says the platform will provide the market access that SMEs currently do not enjoy. “It has been a struggle for many Gauteng SMEs to get to the national tourism INDABA in Durban, for example, and to do business with big buyers or simply service both the domestic and regional markets. This platform also offers an opportunity to introduce international tour operators, packages and buyers to a whole new and unique different side of Gauteng.”
The SATSA equally believes the SME Indaba will provide valuable support for small and medium enterprises, which often find themselves bypassed at larger trade shows. Says SATSA CEO, David Frost: “This event is intended to provide a bridging platform, promoting the exposure of SME products in the brochures and itineraries of in-bound tour operators that have long-held links with international source markets.”
The GTA has already identified more 100 SMEs in 10 Gauteng township tourism nodes and hubs. Many of these, for example those in the Soweto hub, are market-ready, but others will be developed through wider mentoring projects such as the market access development programme and courses prior to the SME Tourism Indaba. These will focus on tailor-made training in all aspects of market access, including insights into trade preferences and presentation skills. At the end of this intense programme the GTA is confident that it will be taking market-ready and business-focused Gauteng township-based products to the tourism INDABA in Durban in May. ! The full SME Indaba programme. For media participation and accreditation, email [email protected]
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For more information and interviews contact: ! Barba Gaoganediwe, Spokesperson Gauteng Tourism 0834467844 [email protected]
Issued by: Destination Promotions and Media Relations Gauteng Tourism 124 Main Street, Marshalltown Johannesburg! ! Follow us on twitter @visitgauteng on facebook at I love Gauteng and Gauteng Tourism Authority on instagram! ! www.gauteng.net! ! ! !