Workshops to help tourism

SUMMER CAMPAIGN: A MASTERCLASS ON DOING BUSINESS IN A COVID-19 ENVIRONMENT

To help SMMEs do business differently and to get sustained results.

Around 70 tourism small, medium and micro enterprises (SMME) from various parts of the Northern Cape welcomed an initiative by South African Tourism to include a workshop as part of the recently launched Summer Campaign.

The SMMEs were exposed to a masterclass on doing business in a Covid-19 environment, as well as expert advice on marketing and embracing digital technology.

These workshops aimed to empower SMMEs, which play a vital part in the tourism eco system, and will take place in every province throughout the Summer Campaign.

Addressing the delegates, speaker of the Dawid Kruiper municipality Marayna Basson said she believes such initiatives go a long way towards address the inequalities of the sector and provide much-needed support for SMMEs, which are critical to the recovery of the tourism sector.

“In drawing our tourism SMMEs from the sidelines and injecting a sense of doing business differently, and striving to be the best, it shall bring with it the results we desire and sustainable businesses,” said Basson.

Upington-based tour operator Johannes Springbok saw the marketing component of the workshop as one of the biggest takeouts.

“We never had the proper tools or full understanding of marketing, but the session empowered us and gave us the tools to go out there and improve,” he said. “It is also important to note that tourism didn’t totally die due to Covid and we heard ... about examples of making a success in business despite the circumstance we are in.”

Springbok’s views were echoed by Rooiduin Guest Farm owner Alida Mouton.

“Amongst the things we learnt was how to go about getting referrals and the use of Google My Business. I was encouraged by what I heard as it means that I am on the right track.”

The day-long programme was a collaborative effort between the department of tourism, SA Tourism and the Northern Cape Tourism Authority.

The next workshop is scheduled for the North West.

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Given the tools to go out there and improve