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In December 1999, the SA Welcome Campaign was launched to spearhead
the building of a tourism nation. It aimed to increase South African
awareness about the importance of tourism to the growth of our
economy. It encouraged South Africans to make visitors feel safe
and welcome.
In the past year, all the major tourism and hospitality players
have taken up the campaign. We have broadened the campaign and
launched it in at least 30 towns and seven border posts. As an
extension to it, the Department has commissioned the Tourism, Hospitality,
Education and Training Authority (THETA), with funding from the
National Business Initiative, to re-engineer the "Ubuntu We
Care" programme.
This revived programme will target a substantial amount of people
who interact with tourists from the moment they arrive in the country
until their departure. This customer-training programme is known
as Welcome Host.
It is based on the Host programme, started in Canada and used
with great effect in Australia, the UK and Zimbabwe. It consists
of a two-day in-house workshop, and basically teaches people how
to go the extra mile for tourists. In addition to people directly
involved in the hospitality industry, Welcome Host will focus on
those in the banking, telecommunications, transport, conservation
and catering sectors.
Important Websites
Media Statements
"Moosa
praises Engen on its Tourism Promotion Campaign: Engen's
Town of the Year Competition Has Greatly Promoted SA's Welcome
Campaign", 20 February 2003
"South
Africa's Welcome campaign finds new home", 23 February
2000 "A
Welcome start to South Africa's tourism campaign", 8
December 1999 |
