Read all about how Cape Town Tourism will be funding SMME, networking and youth development projects through its recent grant of R3.53 million from TBCSA
Cape Town Tourism (CTT) has been granted R3.53 million in TOMSA (tourism levy) funding through the collaborative fund managed by the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) to aid tourism projects in Cape Town. The funds will be used exclusively for initiatives focused on SMME support, creating business networking opportunities, and youth development.
Cape Town Tourism Chief Executive Officer Enver Duminy says the destination management team played a crucial role in presenting a compelling business case to TOMSA during the application process, which ultimately secured the funding. He adds that this financial injection will enable the DMO to accelerate the recovery of the Mother City’s SMMEs and the region’s tourism sector.
“We are thrilled to receive this funding and support from the TBCSA. It will enable us to expand our efforts to support SMMEs and the youth in the tourism sector, fostering sustainable growth for the industry and the local economy. This aligns perfectly with our purpose which is to improve the lives of all Capetonians through tourism.”
The funding will go towards various tourism initiatives in the region, which include:
Neighbourhood Experience Development: This initiative will provide market readiness support, trade experience development, and SMME product training for relevant products within identified neighbourhoods. The content will be updated, digitised, and translated into isiXhosa and Afrikaans, with live training sessions and online catch-ups provided.
Business Skills and Marketing Incubator: A training course for SMMEs to help them understand the tourism landscape and manage their operations effectively, conducted in the format of a marketing incubator, with content translated into isiXhosa and Afrikaans.
Mentorship and Coaching: A targeted mentorship programme providing individualised interventions to qualifying mentees from experienced mentors or business stakeholders with specific skills and knowledge.
Ekasi Group Networking: One-day interactive workshops for tourism businesses operating in various townships within Cape Town, aimed at exchanging ideas and finding solutions to issues hindering growth in their respective industry.
Business Skills Training: Business skills training sessions, based on identified needs, such as marketing, budgeting, business finance, and pricing, and designed to help SMEs better understand the factors influencing business success.
Youth School Programme: One-day tourism workshops, in partnership with the industry, targeting schools that offer tourism as a subject. The programme aims to create awareness of careers and entrepreneurship opportunities in the tourism sector.
Teacher’s Think Tank: One-day engagement sessions with industry experts to better prepare teachers from disadvantaged schools to design relevant lesson plans based on current tourism realities.
