Tourism accessible to all, says Moosa

ENVIRONMENTAL Affairs and Tourism Minister, Mohammed Valli Moosa, encouraged all South Africans to take advantage of South Africa's tourism resources, making the appeal as part of his keynote speech at the World Tourism Day celebrations held at Bakgatla Gate in the North West Province last Friday (September 27). The Moletlo (Tswana word meaning 'celebration') served as the culmination of South Africa's annual Tourism Month and focused on celebrating the unique culture of the local Batswana people. "Travel within South Africa is no longer an activity limited to a privileged few. Our provincial icons, destinations and attractions are there for everyone to enjoy, and there isn't necessarily the need to travel far from home or spend very much money. There are plenty of affordable, tourism-related activities right in our own backyards, if we take the time to look, "said the minister. Moosa's statements were qualified by the announcement that South African Tourism has identified a number of provincial tourism icons that will be vigorously promoted to the SA public. The minister also used the occasion to appeal to the South African tourism industry to make 2003 the year in which it strives to make travel affordable and accessible and also challenged the industry to play a more active mentoring role to the emergent sector. (Miguel de Sousa)