Limpopo Tourism Agency (LTA) has in partnership with Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) launched a calendar of events to celebrate Tourism Month 2019. The launch outlined various activities including campaigns for the entire month of September 2019. The central objective is to drive domestic tourism through raising awareness while encouraging local citizens to travel and experience various tourism experiences in the province.
“According to World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) tourism is a driver of job growth and economic prosperity, accounting for 1 in 10 jobs worldwide and delivering 1 in 5 of all new jobs created in 2017”, said MEC of LEDET, Mr. Thabo Mokone.
In South Africa tourism is celebrated throughout the entire month of September in an attempt to encourage citizens to travel their country. Within this broad context, it is imperative that Limpopo Province and the country in general demonstrate the capacity of tourism to address challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality. These challenges are immediately felt by youth and women in general. During this year’s tourism month, it will be critical to expose and unveil key tourism projects that will particularly respond to issues of unemployment.
Mokone further said, “It is not just employment opportunities and income that the sector can offer. Better quality infrastructure has to be built to support the industry and the local communities to also benefit from improved roads and water supplies, internet access and waste disposal. We spoke for a long time now about the broadband that the tourism sector must benefit from. We should fast track the implementation of this initiative”.
The theme for the day is: “Tourism and jobs; a better future for all”. The tourism industry and the sector in general have a daunting obligation to develop innovative ways of creating employment. This is as a call to action for the tourism sector as a whole to significantly contribute to job creation in line with the theme for tourism month in 2019.
India has been chosen as the host country to celebrate World Tourism Day (WTD) 2019 on the theme ‘Tourism and Jobs: A better future for all’. Celebrated every September 27 around the world, the purpose of World Tourism Day is to foster awareness among the international community on the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value.
The event seeks to address global challenges outlined in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) this is also an opportunity to highlight the contribution the tourism sector can make in reaching these goals. Every year, UNWTO invites people of all ages and backgrounds to take part in WTD celebrations in their respective countries or holiday destinations.
The media launch is expected to kick off the social media campaign, whose main message shall be #Tourism and jobs a better future for all which is aligned with South African Tourism messaging.
