- Free State owes it to itself to put itself in the right position for tourism
- Product owners in the private sector know their market and how to work to reach their target markets and other stakeholders
- Events of the magnitude of the Tourism SaamTrek are aimed at positively impacting the local economy
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The Free State owes it to itself to do everything possible to position itself in the tourism market.
So said Parks Tau, deputy minister of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), during an exclusive interview with Vista at the second annual Free State SaamTrek that was held at Phakisa Freeway on Saturday 28 September.
He said due to the centrality of the Free State which is bordered on the north by the provinces North West, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga, on the east by KwaZulu-Natal and the independent state of Lesotho, on the south by the Eastern Cape, and on the west by the Northern Cape, the province is ideally situated to enjoy a thriving tourism market.
Tau said the imbizo was conceived to bring all stakeholders and role-players together.
“And how do we rally in the Free State? We have unique tourism offerings to ensure that we can increase the tourism market. I honestly feel the time has come that government must stand together with the private sector to provide the oxygen to awaken tourism and to allow the Free State to be the giant that it is intended to be,” says Tau.
“This oxygen lies with the private sector. Product owners in the private sector know their market and how to work to reach their target markets and other stakeholders. I believe events like this one are very important to ignite the supply and demand of tourism. This has been proven. Tourism is reliant on the movement of people. Events attract people to a particular location,” he says.
He would like to create a variety and diversity of tourism offerings so that there will be something throughout the year.
“We have to pull out all the stops and identify what sells in the Free State.”
Tau believes the Free State is an ideal outdoor and adventure destination. “The vast expanses and unrestricted views offer city dwellers a place to find themselves and nature, a place where children can visit and experience farms and nature and be themselves. Tourism in the Free State must be based on simplicity and authenticity.”
The event was convened by the Department of Economy, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (Destea), and hosted by their MEC, Thabo Meeko.
Amongst the activities, travellers witnessed and enjoyed the big screen broadcast of the Rugby World Cup final, between the Springboks and All Blacks.
This initiative responds to the Free State Provincial Tourism Sector’s Strategy which states that sports tourism is one of the best ways to attract tourists and provide authentic sporting events.
Meeko says that events of the magnitude of the Tourism SaamTrek are aimed at positively impacting the local economy by getting more visitors to the Matjhabeng Local Municipality, and also provide the necessary exposure and awareness to the tourism products in the region.
Entry to the festival was free, and activities and entertainment included a kiddie’s village, biker stunt show, car drifting, music performances, food stalls, and tourism products exhibitions.
