Other finalists from the Western Cape for the ETEYA awards, were the Ayanamkela Xhosa Restaurant in Montana (close to Gugulethu and Cape Town airport) and Imvubu Nature Tours, a tourism company situated in Rondevlei Nature Reserve, close to Zeekoevlei.
Minister Witbooi congratulated the winners on their contribution to transforming the tourism industry in the Western Cape. She said that the nature of their tourism businesses are small, and serves as an example that there is a place for smaller tourism businesses together with big hotels and big businesses in the industry.
Minister Witbooi said that the awards ceremony demonstrated that entrepreneurs from previously disadvantaged areas are taking part in opportunities available to them, other than opposition political parties would like to suggest.
"Today is national tourism day. I would like to reiterate that the transformation of the tourism industry remains a serious concern. Ownership in the tourism industry does not reflect a true picture of the demography of our people. I believe one of the biggest challenges facing the Western Cape tourism industry is the fact that it does not adequately represent all our people. We need to ensure that transformation and Economic Empowerment are treated with required sincerity and urgency."
Western Cape government has allocated R1,85 million to programmes over the next few years to ensure economic empowerment in the industry. The programme provides, among others, to develop a directory to promote tourism entrepreneurs within government departments and parastatals. In addition we want to ensure that emerging businesses benefit from business opportunities generated by government-funded events and encourage them to invest in mainstream tourism.
To promote the growth of small tourism businesses, we are restructuring the tourism help desk programme and offer information workshops to new entrants to the industry throughout the province. This year the Western Cape tourism department will launch our Human Resources Development Framework. The strategy will address scarce skills through a bursary funding, train entrepreneurs in corporate governance and leadership, offer a schools programme and tourist guide programmes.
Profiles of Western Cape ETEYA winners:
Way 2 Go Tours
Full operation comprising of six microbuses are all under the direct control of Shukri Hendricks, the founder and major shareholder. Each vehicle operates under the necessary permits and insurance cover as prescribed by road transportation law. Way 2 Go Tours cc offers tourists, both local and international shuttle bus service and tours operating from Cape Town International Airport to the City and various destinations within Cape Town and the Peninsula.
PO Box 21834, Kloof Street, Gardens, 8008Tel: 021 934 2503Fax: 021 934 2746E-mail:Way2Go Tours Rep: Shukri Hendricks
Ayanamkela Xhosa Restaurant
Ayanamkela is a home-restaurant situated in Montana; which is an area close to Gugulethu and the airport. It has been operating since April 2002. It offers traditional Western Cape dishes, mainly Xhosa and will in the near future also offer accommodation. The owner of Ayanamkela has been one of the co-founders and managers of two other restaurants namely: Kuyasa and Masande; which were opened 1998 and 1999 respectively. The staff consists of two full-time and three casual workers. Ayanamkela's main targets are tourists institutions community groups, government departments.
33 Friesland CrescentMontanaTel: 021 934 6147Cell: 083 576 5118Rep: Lungi Kobus-Khaye
Imvubu Nature ToursCommunity based Tourism Company situated in Rondevlei Nature Reserve offering boat trips, overnight accommodation, interpretative tours, conferencing and day tours. Great bird life, hippos and unique fauna and flora.
Rondevlei Nature ReserveFisherman's Walk RoadZeekoevlei, 7941Tel: 021 706 0842Fax: 021 706 2405E-mail:Imvubu Nature Reserve Rep: Graeme Arendse
Issued by: Western Cape Minister of Tourism and GamblingContact person: Helene Rossouw, cell: 082 771 8834
