Explore Limpopo Tourism Market takes off in Tzaneen
Tzaneen
The Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET), together with Limpopo Tourism Agency (LTA), as well as Limpopo Provincial Tourism Association (LPTA), have officially launched the inaugural edition of the annual Explore Limpopo Tourism Market, held at Tzaneen Country Lodge on Thursday 5 and Friday 6 September 2024.
The event attracted dozens of local and international visitors including Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) who converged to showcase their product offerings and increase their exposure to markets.
The Explore Limpopo Tourism Market serves as a driving force for economic growth and the creation of sustainable employment opportunities to position rural Limpopo as a must-visit on the global tourism map.
Delivering a keynote address, LEDET Acting MEC, Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya, stated that everyone in the province should work harder and make a difference in every situation one finds himself or herself in.
“The Explore Limpopo Tourism Market will serve to promote the rich cultural heritage of the province, including its natural beauty and diverse tourist attractions, all of which will enhance marketing the province as the tourist destination of choice in the country,” she said.
Lerule-Ramakhanya added that the platform provides an opportunity for all businesses in the tourism value chain, as well as SMMEs to showcase their product in line with the mandates of LEDET to promote economic growth and grow tourism.
“With the myriad of opportunities being offered over the two days, ranging from topics on tourism growth, business development, knowledge sharing, support to tourism associations and enhancement of industry-government relations, I have no doubt that we have unearthed a dynamic project that will assist to take tourism to new heights in the province,” informed Lerule-Ramakhanya.
The MEC indicated that Limpopo is counted amongst the best performing provinces in tourism because of the effort put by tourism industry through private sector driven events with platforms like the Explore Limpopo Tourism Market, Limpopo Holiday Fair, the Yellow Arum Lily Festival and the Phala Phala Royal Heritage Festival that bring a significant boost to the provincial economy.
“They not only add on the numbers, but these events also bring about social cohesion and a better profile of Limpopo. Hence, our support as government to ensure that together we are able to drive the economy of our province,” she said.
The MEC committed that the department will remain important to set the tone for the development of the tourism sector for the next 5 years and beyond, adding that the uniqueness of the province is an opportunity that they must maximize on in developing the economy, noting that, across the value chain, tourism remains the largest employer in a country’s economy.
Lerule-Ramakhanya stated that as the tourism sector has come out of recovery from the effect of Covid-19, government’s renewed focus must be on achieving the tourist figures and statistics that were enjoyed in the pre-Covid era.
“With the national Department of Tourism’s plans to grow tourism now being entrenched in the Tourism Sector Master Plan, our provincial efforts should be geared towards aligning to such plans. LEDET remains on course to rebuild the tourism sector following the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Together with the private sector, government can maximise on running a number of domestic campaigns and implementing marketing collaborations with various industry players to strengthen Limpopo’s position as a domestic and international travellers’ preferred destination. We will continue to support partnerships between stakeholders and communities to entrench this notion,” explained the MEC.
