LOCAL GOVERNMENT TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH SUPPORT PROGRAMME
The National Tourism Sector Strategy (NTSS) recognises Local Government as a key partner/stakeholder in growing tourism and achieving its outcomes. There is also an acknowledgement that in its current form, local government is far from being able to carry the required functions related to tourism development and management.
It is the above mentioned realities and capacity limitations at the Local Government sphere that necessitated an intervention from the National Department of Tourism in the form of what is termed as a “Local Government Tourism Development and Growth Support Programme”, a brainchild of a partnership with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA).
Objectives of the Programme
- To provide education, training and technical support to municipalities, with a view to grow tourism at local government level;
- To facilitate financial support by linking municipalities with Development Finance Institutions;
- To establish partnerships with Development Finance Institutions in order to facilitate financial support to municipalities;
- To contribute to job creation at local government;
- To ensure alignment of municipal tourism plans with national and provincial tourism plans