Tourism Month 2016

Introduction

Tourism Month is celebrated annually in September with the aim of encouraging South Africans to explore their own country. It also provides the tourism industry with an opportunity for a sustained, heightened month-long focus on the importance of domestic tourism to the economy.

Background

The Department of Tourism will be celebrating the 2016 Tourism Month under the d theme: “Tourism For All”. The theme is in line with World Tourism Day theme: “Tourism For All – Promoting Universal Accessibility".

The “Tourism for All” theme gives us an opportunity to promote universal accessibility while encouraging the tourism industry to cater for all South Africans.

Universal Access is the design of products, environments, s and services that can be used by all people. It includes the removal of cultural, social and other barriers that prevent people with disabilities from benefiting from tourism facilities.

In South Africa the theme goes a step further as it promotes tourism to all South Africans irrespective of financial status, gender and race. To ensure this, the Department is working hard to ensure that all South Africans experience tourism and its benefits derived.

Tourism Month Objectives

Tourism Month aims to encourage South Africans to travel domestically to get a better understanding of the affordable, exciting and world class attractions that are available on their own doorstep.

This dedicated month normally takes place in lesser visited provinces to give them an opportunity to showcase their tourism facilities and attractions. This year the focus will be on the Free State with activities planned at p Dam, Bloemfontein and Parys.

Tourism Month also aims to generate awareness on the enormous contribution that the tourism industry makes to provincial and national economic growth and job creation.

Activities

Minister Derek m will launch Tourism Month on 25 August 2016 at the p Dam in the Free State. On 26 September a public lecture will be held at the Central University of Technology in Bloemfontein during which academia, experts and tourism stakeholders will engage on the current state of universal accessibility in the tourism industry.

This will be followed by World Tourism Day celebrations in Parys, Free State on the 27 September 2016.

Tourism authorities in the provinces

All provinces have activities in place to celebrate Tourism Month. Visit their websites to learn more:

KwaZulu-Natal Tourism Authority

Mpumalanga Tourism Authority

North West Parks and Tourism Boards

Eastern Cape Tourism Authority

Western Cape Tourism Authority

Limpopo Tourism Authority

Gauteng Tourism Authority

Northern Cape Tourism Authority

Free State Tourism Authority