Vhembe SMME's Benefit from Tourism Indaba

Vhembe District product owners had an opportunity of their life time during their visit at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Conference Centre in Durban.The Five day event that took place lastweek was attended by local and international business owners from countries such as England,Japan, Germany, Kenya and many others.

Minister of Tourism, Mr. Martinus Van Skalkwyk, said that the event started in 2003 with fewer number of people attending but during the 2012 Tourism Indaba 13 000 participants attended the event.

"The focus should be on emerging business owners; we need to increase their training so that they can be able to compete internationally. We need also to improve on our language usage so that we are able to interact and share our ideas with other product owners from across the country.

We need also to improve on our dietary requirements to cater the different and diverse needs of the people. We should also harness technology so that we are in par with technological development with the rest of the world.

We should fight against unfair taxes and the removal of barrier to international travel and tourism and also be able to unlock the benefits of aviation on our continent on low cost airlines." Said, Minister van Skalkwyk.

Vhembe District Municipality took along nine products owners to the tourism indaba which included the following: Blessing Guest house, Musina Barcelos and Border Canteen, Porche Villa, Musa Grace Trading, Hayani Accomodation, Tshivhodza Cooperative, Ariye Tours, Oritonda Cooperative and Khoroni Hotel.

Eddy Singo of Hayani Accommodation and Portia Simango of Porche Villa Lodge shared same sentiments that they managed to meet with tour guides and tourists from different countries and some have already made bookings as they are intending to visit Vhembe during the July month this year.

Mrs. Ngoveni of Musa Ngobeni Trading said that she got orders from as far as Spain, Germany and France for the traditional garments that she sells.