Tour Operators Workshop

Speech by Senior Manager: Destination Marketing – Gauteng Tourism Authority
Tour Operators Workshop: 24-25 November 2008
Sandton Convention Centre

Honourable Guests
Colleagues & Friends
Ladies & Gentlemen

I am delighted to have this opportunity to meet not only our Gauteng Tour Operators but also our international visitors, and officially welcome you to Gauteng. Some of you are old friends of ours and I’m also glad to welcome new Tour Operators who have come to participate in this workshop. To our overseas guests, your visit is indeed the beginning of a new phase of development and growth not only for Tour Operating industry, but also for tourism intensification in Gauteng.

Ladies and Gentlemen, tourism is a highly competitive industry, and for us to maintain and exceed our tourist arrival growth rate, it is vital that we continue to enhance international awareness of South Africa as a world-class tourist destination. This workshop therefore, is a further step towards ensuring that the benefits of 2010 FIFA World Cup are felt by all sectors of the business community from multinational companies to family businesses.

This platform again, is an excellent example of how government and business are working with tourism industry and broader stakeholders, in ensuring that planning is aligned and targeted towards a common goal - not only an African World Cup that we all can be proud of, but also to benefit more of our SMME’s.
As you are all aware, Tour Operators have a vital role to play in the success of 2010 FIFA World Cup since you function as intermediaries in the tourism distribution system, linking producers and consumers. Your expertise therefore in packaging tourism products would grow global awareness of South African tourism attractions.

I am also particularly excited about the tourism marketing opportunities that FIFA’s Tour Operator programme provides. Even though this programme is largely focused on the allocation of tickets globally, the very fact that it will incorporate hundred’s of tour operators; provides South Africa with a truly amassing tourism marketing opportunity.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank the organisers, MATCH, for this initiative in ensuring that Tour Operating programme does indeed provide such tourism marketing opportunities.
I thank you for this occasion and wish you every success in implementing 2010 FIFA Tour Operator programme.