TOURISM STAKEHOLDER BREAKFAST DIALOGUE

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The Minister for Tourism, Honourable Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane and the MEC for Finance Economic Development and Tourism, Honourable Maruping Lekwene held a Tourism Stakeholder Breakfast Dialogue on 10 January 2020 at the SALGA boardroom in Kimberley.

The objective of the dialogue was to engage with the tourism industry to build the Northern Cape as a modern, growing and sustainable tourism destination. The Minister for Tourism, Honourable Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane and the MEC for Finance Economic Development and Tourism, Honourable Maruping Lekwene interacted with the Northern Cape Industry and community on tourism.

Mr Neo Maneng welcomed everyone. He said:” Dialogues are meant to improve the system. It is meant to teach each other and learn from each other. Very important, without dialogues the system becomes stagnant. There is no new innovation, no new ideas when there are no dialogues. In a country where there is dialogues, a country grows”.

MEC for Finance Economic Development and Tourism, Honourable Maruping Lekwene said: “The Northern Cape is a special province. An extreme sport destination”. The Northern Cape will be hosting the Cricket World Cup and the 108th African National Congress celebration. For the Kimberley Diamond Cup this year we wish to host over 15 countries. We are looking to train young people to become tourist guides. This will be an opportunity for the youth. We must share ideas on how to grow our province and decrease unemployment. Our greatest challenge is to grow our economy, therefor we must put in more effort and see improvement.

Minister of Tourism, Honourable Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane said: "I can't promote tourism when I don't tour". On arrival in the Northern Cape she visited the Big Hole in Kimberley. "We can never know what product we are selling unless we experience it ourselves", is her motto. We have a responsibility to sell South-Africa. Not just one part, but all of it. We must give excellent service to tourists. We must make them feel welcome. Tourism isn’t just for enjoyment. It’s about heritage, to tell and narrate our past.

After the breakfast dialogue sightseeing took place where the minister of tourism visited the McGregor Museum, The Platfontein Lodge and Conference Centre, the Kimberley Kumba Skate Park and Galeshe, Kimberley’s oldest township. There was a meet and greet with chefs led by head chef, Onicca Moloi at Motswako chisanyama.

 

Creating a welcoming environment for all our visitors to the province and country and service excellence should be paramount for the tourism sector in 2020.

-Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane-