The tourism industry in the Vhembe District is set to receive a welcome boost, thanks to the launch of the Regional Tourism Organisation (RTO), which will serve as the voice for local product owners. The launch took place at the Mapungubwe National Park on Thursday, 23 March.
The tourism industry was hit hard by the outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020, and now, with the formation of RTO, they hope it will be revived to grow bigger and better.
The newly elected chairperson of the RTO, Mr Mashudu Silimela, says the organisation will be representing product owners, including hotel owners, travel agents, tourist guides, tour operators, restaurant owners and all other businesses involved in tourism. He says the executive committee is elected by local tourism associations from Musina, Makhado, Thulamela and Collins Chabane local municipalities, with the aim of working with all the municipalities, the LEDET, and Limpopo Tourism Agency to make the tourism industry thrive again, particularly in the Vhembe region.
RTO was formed in August 2022 and has since been focusing on marketing the district's tourist attractions. "We believe that, if our regional tourism industry is accessible and in good order, more visitors will come to our area; our businesses will grow, and our people will get jobs. We also organise capacity-building workshops for our members and have campaigns to encourage local travel and tourism businesses to know and protect their attraction sites," said Silimela.
Rose Mathukha, member of the mayoral committee in the Vhembe District Municipality, said they were ready to promote RTO and wished them the best in their endeavour to make tourism in the region a success.