Recognising the importance of the tourism sector and the role of SMME’s. The Second Annual Tourism 2020 Dialogue promises a few surprises from international and local organisations for small businesses in South Africa. The content of these are highly confidential at the moment, yet the organisers are excited and will reveal all at the dialogue.
“I believe that many of the conversations we will have during the 25 July Dialogue and the 26 July Industry Workshops are very long overdue, and that the South African sustainable tourism implementation needs to be boosted to catch up as a result. It is great to see so many businesses getting equally excited about the tourism industry, and the realisation amongst all that we need to work together,” says Niki Glen, Programme Director of the Sustainable Tourism Partnership Programme.
The dialogue will see industry leaders, SMME’s, patrons and partners discussing main areas of concern within the tourism industry and in particular in relation to tourism sustainability. It will further provide a platform for participants to identify initiatives that are not only relevant to the tourism sector’s sustainable growth, but also to that of other sectors. It will also provide an opportunity for major organisations, associations and programmes to collaborate in their efforts to ensure overall success in the tourism industry, without duplicating crucial activities and ensuring those critical gaps are addressed.
“While each sector faces its own sustainability challenges, it is imperative for tourism sustainability to collaborate with all other sectors, as tourism is both impacted by and directly impacts other sectors and their growth targets,” says Caroline Ungersbock, Sustainable Tourism Partnership Programme co-founder and president of the NAA-SA.
Some of the key questions that will be discussed at the dialogue include:
1. What is the role of corporate South Africa in achieving tourism sustainability?
2. Is tourism sustainability relevant enough to other sectors and how is this relevance measured?
3. What opportunities arise for cross-sector-collaboration?
“The Tourism 2020 Dialogue is the second in a series of events and each event provides speakers with new challenges in the context of tourism sustainability,” says Niki Glen, co-founder of the Sustainable Tourism Partnership Programme.” It also presents opportunities for cross functional stakeholders interaction, thereby strengthening the collaborative partnerships which will contribute to achieving the National Tourism Sector Strategy (NTSS) 2020 Vision.”
Some of the speakers at the dialogue include:
- Bridgitte Burnett – Nedbank, head of sustainability,
- Eldrid Jordaan – Advisory board member of Mxit,
- Janet Landey – President of the International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA), and
- Nombulela Mkefa – Director: Tourism City of Cape Town
The Dialogue, which will be hosted by the Sustainable Tourism Partnership Programme, the National Accommodation Association of South Africa (NAA-SA) and Alive2Green, will take place on Thursday, 25 July at the Sandton Convention Centre. This free seminar is open to people who can contribute to the Tourism Dialogue.
People representing the following should attend:
- Travel, tourism and hospitality businesses and stakeholders,
- SMME’s, businesses and corporate from other sectors,
- Local Governments,
- Tourism associations,
- Sustainability professionals,
- Tourists and travellers.
More information can be obtained from:
Niki Glen – Sustainable Tourism Partnership Programme
Tel: +27 (0)79 872 3160
Website: www.sttp.co.za
Email: [email protected]
About Sustainable Tourism Partnership Programme (STPP):
According to press release issued by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, more than 1 billion people travelled across the globe in 2012 Tourism makes up 30% of the world’s service exports and the sector further contributed more to the GDP than the automotive sector; it is 30% larger than the global chemicals sector and 75% larger than the global education, communications, and mining sectors. It’s, contribution to job creation estimated to be one in every 12 jobs globally and 50 jobs are created for every $1 million in spending across twenty countries used in the research.
The STPP is a non-profit organisation that focuses on sustainable tourism development and assists small businesses and establishments in the tourism industry to implement and align themselves with the 41 Criteria of the National Minimum Standard for Responsible Tourism (SANS1162:2011). The STPP also aligns itself with Department of Tourism’s National Tourism Sector Strategy and National Strategy for Sustainable Development and Action Plan of 2011. Various sponsors and partners include: Eskom, Nedbank, BnBSure, National Accommodation Association of South Africa, alive2green, eDABA Tourism, IRDC (Institute for Rural and Community Development), I4SBF, The Endangered Wild Life Trust, Positive Cycle and the University of Johannesburg.
About Caroline Ungersbock
Caroline is the President of the National Accommodation Association of South Africa (NAA-SA); and member of the Tourism Technical Committee SABS; FEDHASA Large Hotel Group Committee; Tourism Grading Council of South Africa – Awards Committee; Excellence Forum of the National Department of Tourism: Tourism Growth and Development (Chair); National Tourism Sector Strategy which includes Responsible Tourism and Service Excellence; CEO’s Forum, board member and director of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa.
Caroline is an entrepreneur and owner of several businesses, including a guest house. She is passionate about sustainable tourism and is seen in the industry as a leader in driving awareness and implementation among the NAA-SA members and affiliated members. Caroline is a co-founder of the STPP, the focus of which is to drive change across the entire industry, thus making it more sustainable.
About Niki Glen
Niki is a co-founder and programme director of the Sustainable Tourism Partnership Programme. She joined forced with Caroline in early 2012 to establish the ground breaking programme. Niki is studying towards a doctorate in Environmental Management and Responsible Tourism. Niki’s career as a Civil Engineer, was followed by an MBA (Cum Laude) from UCT and a 10 year stint as an international project manager in financial Services. Her passion for finding solutions and sustainability has taken her to develop the core of the STPP.
About Adv Louis Nel
Louis holds the degrees B. Comm, Ll.B and Ll.M, completed the Wits EDP and Executive Negotiator Courses, holds diplomas in Marketing and Industrial Relations and is an admitted attorney and advocate.
After 15 years with Rennies he set up his own consultancy in 1997 focusing on travel & tourism as well as the Small, Micro & Medium Enterprise (’SMME’) market. Advocate Louis Nel is a regular contributor to Travel News Weekly, TravelInfo, BTN, Tattler, Tourism Update, TIR, TIR 360 Galileo eNews, Field News, Automobil, Anytime, Career Success, Entrepreneur, Status Quo & JFM Transport Facilities Hospitality Marketplace, The Event and conducts regular countrywide road shows. He has appeared on a number of Now Media webinars & on national television (‘Your Own Business’+ ‘Right & recourse’ + ‘Agri TV’), Kyknet: Landbousake as well as 702 ‘Talk Radio’ and Radio Jakaranda. He has furthermore presented papers at the International Federation for Travel Advocates’ conferences in Monte Carlo & Malta, as well as annually at conferences held by BNI, IIB, ABTA, ACTE, ASATA, SATSA, SAACI, HWTSA, Sure Travel, SATC, SITE, CMP and Travel Counsellors and monthly at the Wanderers Club covering an array of topics.
He offers the travel & tourism industry & SMME market the following an intimate (30 YEAR!) knowledge thereof, regular talks at various forums and works closely with the various travel consortia. Louis is a founding member of the STPP.
