Tourism has been hard hit by the Covid-19 lockdown, and there is now a fund – and weekly webinars – to provide the ailing industry support.
Finance and Economic Opportunities MEC, David Maynier, recently announced the establishment of a fund for the tourism sector and this week his department will host the first of its five-part weekly webinar in which local and international tourism experts give advice.
The webinar today, Thursday July 30, will focus on opening safely and the Covid-19 health and safety protocols for tourism businesses developed by industry bodies.
On Thursday August 6 it will focus on the future of trade and consumer exhibitions and what destinations can do to support recovery.
Thursday August 13 looks at international best practice in business travel and opening safely during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Thursday August 20 explores international best practice to guide plans for a new normal, and ideas on how to pivot to attract visitors when destinations are ready to open.
The last webinar is on Thursday August 27 and deals with challenges around destination brand reputation during the Covid-19 pandemic
The tourism webinar series follows the announcement on July 15 of the Tourism Product Development Fund which commits R5 million to support new or existing tourism products and experiences in the Western Cape.
Mr Maynier said that innovation and adaptability through product and market diversification were more important now than ever. “We have also actively engaged national government on the responsible reopening of the tourism economy where we believe it is safe to do so, such as accommodation for leisure for travel within provinces,” he said.
For more information and to register for the tourism webinar series, click here.
For more information on the Tourism Product Development Fund, click here.
Email enquiries to productdevelopmentfund@westerncape.gov.za The closing date for submissions for the fund is Friday August 14 at 4pm.
