Transformation
The more growth there is in the tourism industry, the more opportunities there are, and with the employment imperative to see young black industry leaders raised up, the healthy state of the industry is changing the face of society in tangible ways. As a sector, there’s generally a culture between organisations and businesses of commitment to transformation, including initiatives such as skills development and mentoring programmes. It’s a “watch this space” arena that promises even more leadership excellence across the board.
With initiatives such as the Cape 365 workshops, industry focus is on counteracting seasonality by encouraging year-round tourism. As direct flights are increased and business and leisure travel are promoted via highlighting the local capacity to stage events and conferences, for example, the city’s tourism industry will experience less of a dip in low season. This will enable tourism businesses to continue at full throttle throughout the year rather than having to lay off staff members.
An influx of international visitors compels local businesses to maintain a world-class tourism offering to meet those high expectations. So there is constant reinvention taking place to ensure that products remain relevant. Another benefit of tourism is that visitors may bring ideas here and share them, making suggestions about potential improvements. This leads to attractions and experiences in the city always striving to keep one step ahead, and these ongoing developments create a thriving environment that is of benefit to locals, too.
The youth of South Africa face challenges quite unlike other generations, not least of which is finding employment. In a job market that is limited, the tourism sector provides an attractive proposition for those enterprising entrepreneurs able to spot gaps in the market and develop business proposals to fill the gaps. There are funding mechanisms for startups and many multi-stakeholder meetings for networking and sharing ideas. Since the market is growing, this could be the industry of the future for our locals.
Who can not be inspired by the notion of travel? It exposes us to new ideas, new outlooks on life and new experiences. With international visitors flocking to our city, we look at it with fresh eyes and gain appreciation for what we have right where we live. More than that, it turns us into ambassadors; when we travel, we can’t help but tell people about this remarkable place that will change the way they see the world. With developments such as Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, we can see this inspiration coming to life and altering our landscape, inspiring us to look at our own neighbourhoods and wonder what could be done to upgrade, reinvent and attract.
Tourism is not a static industry that ticks over, it’s a vibrant, organic environment that is as fascinating and exciting as the people whose energy it requires. Look a little more closely at what our visitors experience, and you’ll see this for yourselves.
