The Department of Tourism in collaboration with the Free State Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, and Thabo Mofutsanyana district municipality will host tourism information sharing sessions in Bethlehem for Small Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMME’s).
The Department launched SMME support programmes as part of the greater objective of the revised National Tourism Sector Strategy (NTSS) 2016-2026 to ensure the sustainable development and growth of tourism enterprises in a manner that facilitates inclusive participation, job creation and contributes to the competitiveness of tourism destinations.
The information sessions will feature the following:
- Presentations by various organisations, exhibitions and one-on-one consultations with government and financial entities
- Grading incentives and benefits for establishments [B&Bs, Guest Houses]
- Tourist guiding – guidelines on how to become a registered tourist guide
- Tourists complaints - where to go and how to lodge a complaint
The session will also give entrepreneurs insight on how to access the Department’s Tourism Incentive Programme’s such as the International Market Access Support Programme, the Green Tourism Incentive Programme (GTIP) and the Transformation Fund.
SMMEs seeking targeted business support services have an opportunity to interact with Departmental officials about the Tourism Enterprise Development and Incubator Programme, and learn how to tap into the resources offered through the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA), SEDA and National Empowerment Fund (NEF).
SMMEs ARE INVITED AS FOLLOWS:
CAPACITY BUILDING AND INFORMATION ROADSHOW
DATE: Tuesday, 19 February 2019
Venue: Bethlehem Town Hall - Free State
Time: 08:30 – 15:00
TIME
| PROGRAMME OUTLINE TOURISM SMME INFORMATION SESSION AND EXHIBITION Tuesday, 19 February 2019 – Bethlehem Town Hall, Free State |
08:30 – 9:30
| Arrival, registration and exhibition viewing
|
09:30 –09:45
| Opening and welcome address |
09:45 – 10:00
| Purpose and background
|
10:00 - 11:00
| PRESENTATIONS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM:
- Tourism Incentive Programme
- Tourism Complaints Management
- Tourism Enterprise Development
- Tourist Guiding
|
11:00 – 11:15
| Northern Cape Economic Development, Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (NCEDA)
|
11:15 – 11:30
| Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA)
|
11:30 – 12:00
| Industrial Development Corporation (IDC)
|
| | Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA)
|
| National Empowerment Fund (NEF)
|
12:00 – 12:10
| Vote of Thanks
|
12:10 – 12:15
| Closure
|
12:15 – 13:00
| EXHIBITIONS
|
13:00 – 14:00
| Lunch
|