Holiday happily at home with a ‘Sho’t Left’
HAILING from the Eastern Cape, with a close affinity to the province’s places, landscapes and people, I find myself thinking about tourism as our beaches, hotels and restaurants tackle the holiday influx.
What does tourism mean to us as South Africans? Many people still think of travel in terms of glitzy resorts and posh hotels, or relaxing with loved ones on the beach, eating, drinking and being merry.
But many of us will also be enjoying a quiet “staycation” away from the crowds, or will be heading home to our provinces of origin to spend quality time with family.
We may not realise it, but we can still “do” tourism in our own urban and rural backyards. It’s easy, affordable and accessible to all. That’s the premise of South Africa’s latest domestic marketing campaign – It’s your country, enjoy it. Nothing is more fun than a Sho’t Left – a brief (and often impromptu) getaway to recharge.
We want more South Africans to explore and enjoy their own country – all nine provinces, each with their own offerings. That’s why SA Tourism has joined hands with the travel trade to package affordable Sho’t Left deals – you can find an array of mind-blowing, horizon-expanding experiences on www.shotleft.co.za
Several of these tourism-related encounters are in your immediate surroundings or just a short drive away, yet they can leave you and your family feeling de-stressed, replenished and with a treasure trove of memories.
So shrug off your routine and try something new this festive season. Take a Sho’t Left.
Visit our Lilizela Tourism Awards website.
If you’re in Sedgefield near Knysna, why not go on a slowbrewed coffee and beer tour with Afrovibe Experiences – and try your hand at stand-up paddle-boarding?
If you’re in Durban, marvel at the Durban Art Gallery’s exhibitions of Zulu beadwork and the striking photographs of world-renowned visual activist Zanele Muholi.
In the Eastern Cape, why not visit the Baviaanskloof Mega-Reserve World Heritage Site, largest wilderness area in the country? In Mpumalanga, hop on a toboggan and whoosh around the mountains of Long Tom Pass.
If you’re enjoying the tranquillity of Gauteng’s Pretoria, why not treat yourself to an inspirational personal pilgrimage to Freedom Park?
In Johanesburg, head to the iconic Constitution Hill for the first Afropunk Festival on African soil over the New Year’s weekend.
At the heart of all of these Sho’t Left experiences are people. So just as tourism is not just about big, epic holidays, neither is it just about natural wonders. It’s about the warm and welcoming smiles as sunny as our skies, the conversations of discovery we have with our compatriots and the shared commonalities we laugh and bond over, and the natural hospitality and ubuntu ingrained in our national fabric.
Everyone who travels around South Africa says their chance encounters with friendly locals are just as memorable as spotting the Big Five, swimming in the warm ocean or sipping a chilled sauvignon blanc in the beautiful winelands.
Flesh-and-blood people add extra lustre to our country’s vibrant and diverse tourism offering. This is the message SA Tourism hopes to convey in our 10-minute global brand film, which follows a rural dressmaker called Bheki on an odyssey around South Africa.
This festive season, during your Sho’t Lefts, I urge you to support small businesses that serve up original, distinctively South African products and services.
So, that’s a good enough excuse to get travelling! Let’s all revel in discovering our own country while helping to bring about the prosperous South Africa we want to see.
Ntshona is the chief executive of South African Tourism.