By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
With the festive season in full swing, Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille has visited various destinations around Gauteng as part of the Summer Campaign roadshows.
The aim is to encourage South Africans to explore what the province has to offer. The annual Tourism Summer campaign was launched in the Free State in October this year.
Joined by City of Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero and Deputy Minister Maggie Sotyu, they spent time at key tourist sites, such as Hector Peterson Museum, Nelson Mandela Museum in Vilakazi street etc.
De Lille has highlighted the importance of integrating community engagement into tourism and conservation efforts.
“Sustainable tourism is about ensuring that the beauty and biodiversity of our destinations are preserved for future generations,” De Lille said.
De Lille and Sotyu, also visited various sites in the eThekwini Municipality on Wednesday.
They spent time at the beach front, where they joined Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers in a beach clean-up operation.
The initiative organised by the Department of Tourism, in partnership with eThekwini Metro and the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government, marks the fifth clean-up in an ongoing series aimed at promoting environmental conservation and responsible tourism.
The clean-up campaign aligns with the government’s commitment to preserve the environment and maintain Durban’s status as a top-tier holiday destination.
The initiative also underscores the need for collaborative efforts to ensure beaches and other attractions remain clean, safe, and appealing to both local and international tourists.
The clean-up was followed by an engagement with 50 senior citizens inside the Open Bus Tour to uShaka Marine World.
“As South Africa’s summer holiday season peaks and visitors venture out to explore our diverse travel offerings, we visited these sites to inspect summer readiness and to encourage visitors to explore the country responsibly.
“This roadshow is part of the broader objectives of the Tourism Sector Masterplan to promote tourist attractions and hidden gems in all our provinces,” De Lille said.
The Tourism Sector Masterplan seeks to promote tourism attractions and hidden gems across South Africa’s provinces; foster collaboration between industry stakeholders, community members, and government entities; and drive initiatives that enhance safety and environmental awareness at key tourist sites.
As part of supplementing safety initiatives by the South African Police Service and local law enforcement, Sotyu said the department has implemented the Tourism Monitors initiative, which involves the training, mentorship, and deployment of unemployed youth at identified tourism sites across the country and enhance tourism safety.
“The Tourism Monitors Programme is part of the National Tourism Safety Plan to enhance tourism safety awareness at key tourism sites; upskill unemployed youth, and reduce tourist vulnerabilities,” Sotyu said.