Charlene Smith
The government has launched a R10-million marketing assistance scheme to help entrepreneurs market South African tourism more aggressively worldwide.
The International Tourism Marketing Assistance Scheme run by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism compensates entrepreneurs active in tourism for some costs incurred when encouraging foreigners to visit South Africa.
The scheme provides financial assistance for international sales and marketing missions, including investment recruitment missions, exhibitions and the production and distribution of tourism marketing material. Costs reimbursed also include travel and subsistence expenses, exhibition costs and postage.
Mike Fabricius, chief director of tourism at the department, says those who wish to benefit from the scheme should “be trading for commercial gain, be a member of a recognised tourism organisation, be appropriately equipped to conduct business in the international marketplace and have participated in a Satour- organised international exhibition or have Satour approval to take part in future events”.
The department provides for sound auditing and financial control measures and participants are expected to submit an annual report detailing results achieved during the preceding 12 months.
Fabricius says the White Paper on tourism targets a growth of 17% in international tourism arrivals to the year 2000.
“This will result in a rise in foreign earnings of up to R23-billion per annum and a sustainable job creation of between 550 000 and 860 000.”
Tourism operators can obtain more details from Eugene Grimbeek, at the Department of Environ- mental Affairs and Tourism, Private Bag X447, Pretoria 0001, or fax (012) 320 4740.