The local tourism organisation of Stellenbosch is the first of a potential 68 in the Western Cape to be officially accredited by the provincial tourism destination marketing organisation, Cape Town Routes Unlimited, as part of a…
The local tourism organisation of Stellenbosch is the first of a potential 68 in the Western Cape to be officially accredited by the provincial tourism destination marketing organisation, Cape Town Routes Unlimited, as part of a process to give visitors to Cape Town and the Western Cape an improved, integrated tourism service and enhance their tourism experience of the province. Being accredited will give local tourism organisations access to long-term funding from local municipalities.
An official accreditation certificate, valid for three years, will be handed over by Cape Town Routes Unlimited to representatives of the Stellenbosch Tourism Organisation at a ceremony at The House of JC le Roux, Stellenbosch, this afternoon (Friday, 13 October 2006). The event follows an extensive consultative process with local tourism organisations and local municipalities in the Western Cape over the last six months, including 32 workshops and several discussion sessions hosted by Cape Town Routes Unlimited’s Visitor and Membership Services Unit.
“The provincial accreditation process is vitally important to boost tourism service standards and make tourism a part of local economic development at municipal level. It also confirms that there is a growing recognition at local government level of the important contribution that tourism makes to local economic development. Under the new system, local tourism organisations will qualify for funding from municipalities if they meet certain criteria designed to enhance the service delivered to tourists,” says Calvyn Gilfellan, Cape Town Routes Unlimited’s Executive Manager: Tourism Operations.
“The local tourism organisations we have had discussions with were quite receptive to the idea, as this now creates a platform for meaningful engagement between them and their municipalities, and ensures that all local tourism organisations deliver services of the same high standard,” he says.
In terms of section 19 of Chapter 9 of the Western Cape Tourism Act, Act 1 of 2004, Cape Town Routes Unlimited is empowered to accredit all local tourism organisations or similar tourism organisations established or recognised by municipalities. Local tourism organisations have had four months, ending on 31 October 2006, to apply for accreditation. Accreditation will be valid for three years, after which local tourism organisations will have to apply for an extension.
Once local tourism organisations have been accredited, local municipalities will be obliged to fund them. In order for this to happen, local tourism organisations would need to agree to comply with the municipality’s financial reporting, management and auditing requirements, as well as adhere to broad-based black economic empowerment criteria. By becoming accredited, local tourism organisations also become part of Cape Town Routes Unlimited’s visitor services network.
“With the central role played by Cape Town Routes Unlimited, we are assuring the tourist that quality and uniform service is provided by the local tourism organisation network throughout the province, from the most remote village to the better-known visitor attractions”, Mr Gilfellan concludes.
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