Moosa launches Tourism Month

"OUR single-minded focus for this year's Tourism Month in September will be to challenge and inspire all South Africans to travel domestically, thereby engendering a pride in all that our country has to offer." This was the message of Environment and Tourism Minister, Mohammed Valli Moosa, at the launch of the programme for Tourism Month which took place at the Zoo Lake conference and function venue in Johannesburg yesterday morning. Moosa said among the many initiatives planned by SA Tourism and his department for the month would include a nationwide *'Share South Africa Challenge' and a 'Discover South Africa Road Show'. "There is also World Tourism Day, which falls on September 27, when the attention of the world will be on tourism as an economic growth stimulant," he said. Moosa called on the trade to identify publicity opportunities either within their day-to-day operations or during any events that coincide with tourism month. "Incorporate Tourism Month 2001 branding as far as possible. To help you do so, we've designed a number of free promotional items, such as lapel pins, caps, shirts and decals bearing the Tourism Month 2001 logo," he added. *The Share South Africa Challenge invites people to forward a letter, craft, artwork, photograph or any other form of communication illustrating what makes South Africa special to them. Members of the public may also participate through a 25 station national radio competition which will be broadcast during the month. The Discover South Africa Road Show is an interactive edutainment-based production that will travel throughout South Africa in an attempt to educate audiences around the country on the benefits of tourism to SA's economy. The theatre piece will be performed in all 11 languages by a team of 12 young South Africans travelling throughout the country in a branded Discover South Africa Road Show bus. (Miguel de Sousa)