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Township tourism gets a boost
24 April, 2007 By Tiro Mahlakoleng LOCAL tourism associations have been set up in Munsieville and Kagiso townships, boosting the hopes of local entrepreneurs of tapping into the tourism industry to create economic growth. The Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA) and Mogale City Local Municipality worked closely with local people to help them to establish their associations and to ensure that they elected executive committees. This move follows a pledge by Executive Mayor Calvin Seerane in his State of the City address to promote township tourism. The associations, Munsieville Local Tourism Association and Kagiso Local Tourism Association, were established on 28 and 29 March respectively. They are aimed at marketing and selling local tourism products and the townships as tourist destinations. They will also help local communities to get exposure and boost economic growth by marketing individual tourism products collectively. According to the Manual for Establishing Tourism Associations, marketing and promoting a member's products through a tourism association results in increased exposure and, therefore, growth. Morgan Mabaso, of the GTA, says: "The establishment of a local tourism association is the vehicle to organise and equip local communities, including those in defined poverty areas, to service the tourism industry and generate benefits for themselves." Grouping individual township residents in formalised structures may also help the residents to access funding from other tourism stakeholders. "Mogale City's role is to facilitate the establishment of local communities into formal structures, for them to be able to source funding from organisations such as the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller, the Tourism Enterprise Programme and the GTA," said the City's officer for tourism and rural development, Doctor Mdluli. People elected to serve on the executive committe of the Kagiso Local Tourism Association Various stakeholders attended the birth of the associations, such as tour guides, cultural groups, artists, bead workers, veterans, bed and breakfast owners, buy and braai facilities owners and members of the entertainment industry. "Artists [painters] are not represented on the elected committee," said Thabo Diole, a 21-year-old Munsieville resident. "However we are happy about the initiative and we hope that the association will help us to market our products." The executive members of the Munsieville Local Tourism Association are Meshack Padi, the chairperson; Elizabeth Lerefelo, the deputy chairperson; Lavious Motsumi, the secretary; Cecilia Dodo, the deputy secretary; and Abiding Zwane, the treasurer. The executive members of the Kagiso Local Tourism Association are Busang Moloi, the chairperson; Thandi Ngema, the deputy chairperson; Mpule Teme, the secretary; Kgosi Teme, the deputy secretary; and Obi Teme, the treasurer. Local tourism associations are not new to Mogale City, which already has such structures in the Crocodile Ramble, Mogale Tourism and Magalies Meander.
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Members of the Munsieville Local Tourism Association committee look on as representatives of the hospitality industry in the area ask questions
Related stories Welcome to the treasure chest of the west Magalies Meander draws in tourists Wonder Cave is beautiful Unlocking the treasure chest Kagiso - an introduction Munsieville - the childhood home of Archbishop Tutu Focus on tourism, Gautrain and jobs Heritage indaba on the cards |
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