Business Times to publish survey ahead of Tourism Business Conference

TO coincide with the National Tourism Business Conference taking place in Port Elizabeth from August 18 to 20, 2003, the Business Times will be publishing a survey on August 3 at the request of Gate 7 and Satsa. The survey will look at the following issues in depth: * What the conference intends to achieve ... With its theme being to empower entrepreneurs through education, the conference has been called a “pioneer” that will provide a platform for pulling together to address problems and share knowledge; * Tourism is the fastest growing industry in the world, and South Africa is the fastest growing tourism destination … but that’s not enough to ensure its global competitiveness. What else needs to be done?; * The conference will help to turn words into action through proactive participation in the transformation of the tourism industry – crucial if South Africa’s tourism industry is to continue to grow in the long-term; * Why is it so important for corporates, through their social investment programmes, and major tourism stakeholders to reach out to entrepreneurs? How can this enhance the economy?; * How the private sector can make a difference to tourism development … A look at some success stories; * The conference will see the launch of the national Tourism Development Initiative … what will this initiative contribute to the industry?; * Drawing in the stakeholders … the importance of building networks and bridges, working together, pooling resources and sharing business; * The golden threads … corporate sector participation in the tourism industry as a social responsibility initiative, enhancing the growth potential of current tourism products by exposing business owners to accepted tourism marketing techniques and initiatives, and the provision of essential education, training and skills transfer to emerging tourism entrepreneurs; * The conference follows government’s message to the private sector that came out of a national conference in Limpopo in November … how business and stakeholders took up the challenge and are making this conference happen, and * The aims of the Tourism Industry Expo, which will run concurrently with the conference. To participate in the survey, e-mail: kerranee@sundaytimes.co.za (Miguel de Sousa)