The two-day conference is entitled "Partners in Transformation" and various high-profile speakers have been booked to address delegates. The speakers include Western Cape Economic Development & Tourism Minister Lynne Brown, CEO of SA Tourism Cheryl Carolus and Clem Sunter, the head of the Anglo American Chairman's Fund.
The purpose of the Conference is not only to facilitate transformation in the tourist guide sector, but to also address issues such as the existence of illegal guides and creating a partnership with bodies such as the Tourism SETA and SA Tourism.
Minister Brown said: "My department is bound by law to legally fulfil its obligations by ensuring that the registration of tourist guides takes place and the industry is regulated as prescribed".
The Department of Economic Development & Tourism hopes the conference will draw attention to the necessity of tourist guides to register for accreditation and the various support programmes for those working in the industry.
These include the CTGA initiating a mentorship programme for black guides currently being trained by the Department.
Minster Brown said: "The conference will help clear up any misunderstandings that might exist. It will also assist us in our efforts to ensure that the tourist guide industry reflects the people of our province".
Minister Brown added: "We know that black tourist guides and companies have been complaining about exclusion from the industry. The conference will certainly start putting the building blocks towards overcoming this unacceptable phenomenon".
The conference will be hosted at the Nederburg Wine Estate in Paarl. Close to 200 delegates from across the Province have already confirmed attendance. The intention is make the gathering an annual event.
According to statistics generated by the Department of Economic Development & Tourism, 1,5 million foreign tourists visited the Western Cape in 2003, compared with 1,3 million visitors in 2002. We had 5.1 million domestic visitors in 2003 compared to 4.3 million in 2002.
Accolades have been showered on the destination, including Cape Town being voted No 5 in the BBC's 50 places to see before you die and voted the best city in Africa by the World Travel Awards and the Conde Nast Global awards.
Tourism accounts for approximately 9.8% of Gross Regional Product and employs 9.6% of the Western Cape's workforce. Tourism provides a direct injection of more than R20 billion to the local economy. It is one of 13 sectors identified by the Provincial Government as possessing potential for growth.
Minister Brown said: "We want to show visible support for the tourism industry. The Western Cape boasts 8 out of 10 top South African tourist attractions as voted by the tourists. Tourism is therefore an important source of income for the Province and everyone involved with this industry needs to be expertly and professionally trained".
The Cape Tourist Guide Association is a private, non-profit organisation representing tourist guides in the Western Cape. Its' aims and objectives are the promotion and maintenance of high standards of professionalism among tourist guides.
