The Tourism Mentorship Programme remains a flagship programme aimed at advancing the objectives of the Tourism B-BBEE Sector Code through the mentoring of Small Medium Micro Enterprises (SMME’s) through partnership with well-established business. The programme has had nine intakes within a period of nine years and has assisted numerous tourism small enterprises inclusive of tour operators, accommodation establishments, travel agents and restaurants.

The programme focuses on the following:

• Customer services

• Business management

• Hospitality Business Skills training

• Access to market

• Marketing in Tourism

• TOURISM AWARENESS, WORKSHOPS & SAFETY CAMPAIGNS

In partnership with various stakeholders, the unit facilitates tourism workshops, awareness and safety campaigns. This is undertaken in an effort to capacitate, create awareness and ensure growth and sustainability of tourism within the province. The list below outlines the various awareness workshops and campaigns undertaken by the tourism unit:

The project aims to assist tourism graduates with opportunities for experiential learning with a view to providing them with much needed experience in preparation for full time employment or entrepreneurial opportunities. Graduates are placed in various District, Local municipalities, Visitor Information Centres, and private businesses for a period of 12 months for those graduates who have completed their studies and six months for those who needs to complete their studies but needs in-service training. The hosting employer must be committed to provide a mentor and office space.

Objectives:

• To address the issues of skills shortage within the tourism industry.

• To create employment opportunities for the unemployed graduates whilst providing experiential learning.

• To provide in-service training opportunities to tourism students who are unable to complete their studies due to the lack of practical exercises

• To provide support to local municipalities

• TOURISM SUSTAINING COMPETITIVE AND RESPONSIBLE ENTERPRISES (SCORE)

SCORE is a practical training and in-factory counselling project that improves productivity and working conditions in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The SCORE Training product demonstrates best international practice in the manufacturing and service sectors and helps SMEs to participate in global supply chains.

Objectives:

The aims of the project are:

• To boost economic growth and environmental wellbeing of the business and its communities of interest by providing learning materials on Responsible Wildlife Tourism.

• To create an understanding that sustainable enterprises need to be innovating, adopt environmentally friendly technologies, develop skills and human resources and enhance productivity to remain competitive in national and international markets.

SCORE Training is a modular programme that focuses on developing cooperative working relations resulting in shared benefits. SCORE Training comprises of five modules that cover Workplace Cooperation, Quality Management, Clean Production, Human Resource Management, and Occupational Safety and Health. Each module includes a two-day classroom training for managers and workers, followed by on-site consultations with industry experts that help to put the training into action in the workplace.

The department developed the KwaZulu-Natal Beach Tourism Policy in 2011 and the purpose of the policy is three-pronged:

• Firstly, the policy purports to rally all tourism stakeholders, both public and private sector, around a common goal of ensuring attractive and safe beaches for tourists in the province of KwaZulu-Natal thus advancing the competitive edge of the province as a number one domestic tourism destination.

• Secondly, the policy identifies and recommends various Beach Tourism Programmes along the lines of Responsible Tourism that can be developed and implemented at a local level to maximise benefits of Beach Tourism to KwaZulu-Natal in general and coastal communities in particular.

• Thirdly, the policy provides an integrated approach to Beach Tourism development and identifies roles of key stakeholders in achieving the overall objectives of the policy.

The following projects are being implemented according to the 2011 KwaZulu Natal Tourism Beach Policy:

• Upgrading of Blythedale Beach

• Upgrading of Dokodweni Beach

• Assessment of the status of the KwaZulu-Natal beaches.

• Prioritisation of beaches to be assisted in acquiring the Blue Flag status.

The registration of Tourism Businesses is according to the Tourism Regulations that were promulgated in 2004 which stipulates that it is mandatory for all enterprises whose primary objectives is to provide services and facilities to tourists or visitors to register with the department and it involves the following:

• Entail registration of all qualifying tourism businesses within the province as per the categories informed by the registration regulations in the Province

• Compile a comprehensive database for all registered tourism businesses within the Province

• Form partnerships with CTA, CTOs, Municipalities and TGCSA and other relevant stakeholders to ensure compliance

• Conduct site visit and inspection to tourism businesses

• Conduct road shows and workshops on the importance of registration and compliance

• Keep and maintain the database of all registered tourism businesses and submit a comprehensive list to TKZN for compilation of the accommodation guide and travel guide

All registered Tourist Guides and Tourism Business are uploaded on the TKZN website for marketing purpose and exposure through different platforms. The Department is in the process of creating a webpage for further distribution and access of information, notice will be also circulated as and when necessary to create awareness on the importance of complying with current legislation.

• Frequently Asked Questions

• Tourism Business Registration Forms

• Tourism Registration Form for CTOs