The Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA) is reaching out to entrepreneurs in the province to propose community-based tourism initiatives to rebuild the local travel and leisure industry that suffered a massive blow in the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The implementation of these projects takes place through partnership, sponsoring and cooperation agreements with the GTA.
Through this process, the GTA hopes to revitalize tourism in the province and provide an opportunity to drive change by enabling blacks, women, youth and people with disabilities to participate.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has forced key industry players with large and small companies to leave the room because their businesses are no longer viable,” said Fisokuhle Mbatha, Head of Destination, Planning and Development at GTA.
Mbatha notes that tourism is driven by small, medium, and micro-sized enterprises (SMEs) and government-backed businesses. However, there is currently a serious shortage of products and services that can be sold in the market to revitalize the industry.
Although people have decided to get out of the tourism industry, “we need to get back to basics and ask the government to create incentives that will rekindle people’s interest in returning,” he explains.
For this reason and with the support of the state government, the GTA calls on the citizens of Gauteng to participate in the revitalization of the industry, but also to use the opportunity to create sustainable future business.
“It is even more important that the GTA would like to actively shape interested applicants in order to benefit directly from it. Firstly, we want all projects to be implemented and, secondly, to be sustainable, ”says Mbatha.
He explains that after receiving the suggestions from the municipalities, the GTA would evaluate the applications from the point of view of feasibility, but also from the point of view of necessity and practicality.
“Five years is a benchmark period in tourism that we know is at least necessary to ensure that the project / business starts to become profitable. Therefore, GTA intends to develop projects that are sustainable over the next five years and create opportunities for further growth. We will invest both financial and non-financial resources through training and market access to directly tap into the tourism industry, ”said Mbatha.
Applications for the community-based tourism initiative must contain the following information:
• Project profile: project definition, background and purpose, market analysis, product and service development, marketing, financial data, organizational structure, ownership, risk factors and conclusion.
• Partnership approach: The project proposal must clearly outline the planned financial and / or non-financial partnership between the parties [client (GTA) and respondent].
• Destination and beneficiaries: The proposed project must target previously marginalized groups in society (such as women, people with disabilities and young people) and be located in the geographic area of Gauteng. Note: If a particular property is central to the implementation of the project, a letter will be required confirming the right to use the property for the proposed activity.
• Project Value: The value of each proposal for support will be assessed primarily on the basis of the principles of community-based tourism and, secondly, on its feasibility and feasibility.
The following documents must be attached to the proposal to be submitted:
• Details of the respondents: name and position, contact details
• Company profile: name and location; Background; Number of years of operation; Management team and structure; Experience in implementing projects such as the proposed initiative.
Submissions and inquiries are to be sent to community-tourism@gauteng.net.
The application deadline is Thursday, November 9th, 2021, 10 a.m.
Written by Sascha-Lee Joseph
03/12/2021
