Part of FTTSA’s mission is to create the conditions for more successful community-owned and operated tourism throughout South Africa. Linked to this, we facilitate a number of projects designed to directly and indirectly assist existing community-based tourism enterprises to become commercially successful.
Local Co-ordinators are assigned to help with the implementation of NDA projects :
“Strengthening Community Tourism for Sustainable Local Economic Development”
This is a 24-month project designed to strengthen six community tourism initiatives in the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces, funded by the National Development Agency (NDA) of South Africa. This broad objective will be achieved through a two-pronged approach, focusing on 1) product development; and 2) improving access to markets. Three clusters of community tourism enterprises will participate in the project. Each cluster is situated within an existing tourism corridor:
- A Wild Coast cluster comprised of four enterprises each wholly or partially owned/operated by a community trust.
- A Grahamstown cluster comprised of 40 township homestays, all black-owned and operated.
- A southern Cape cluster comprised of a network of 12 homestays, all owned and operated by black women who are beneficiaries of land reform/restitution in South Africa.
“Heritage Homestead Survey”
FTTSA is conducting parallel research in two provinces, to investigate the feasibility of a new model for community-based cultural tourism. In KwaZulu Natal, this research is funded by the Gijima KZN Fund, while in the Eastern Cape the funding is provided by the Thina Sinako Fund.
This research will lead to the development of business plans and implementation strategies for communities at Mboza (northern KZN) and Qunu (Eastern Cape), and potentially to the development of a commercially orientated supportive agency, which will provide marketing, business development services and facility management services to community-based tourism enterprises throughout South Africa (and possibly further afield). For more information, contact Jennifer Seif, Jennifer@fairtourismsa.org.za
"Accredited Tourist Guide Training for Local Youth" Project Number 2
Through a grant received from NLDTF, a total of 94 guides have been or are currently being trained as NQF level 2, site and tour guides as well as receiving level 1 First Aid training. The training is carried out in three provinces (Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Limpopo).
The NLDTF-funded project has provided FTTSA with the opportunity to continue to play an advocacy role in South Africa, and to build on tourism stakeholders’ existing perception of FTTSA as a credible, expert organization that can help to promote responsible tourism through technical assistance and capacity-building. This position is critical to the successful implementation of FTTSA’s various projects as well as to expanding the FTTSA portfolio of FTTSA-certified establishments.
"Accredited Tourist Guide Training for Local Youth" Project Number 1
Through funding received from the NLDTF during the period 2009 – 2010, a total of 82 black South African tourist guides received NQF Level 2 tourist site guide training and Level 1 First Aid training. This exceeded the agreed upon target of 50 tour guides. Furthermore, as an add-on to complement the training, 37 tourist guides received South African Host training. The trainings were conducted in 4 clusters in Johannesburg, the Wild Coast, the Western Cape and KwaZulu Natal.
