The Ekurhuleni Tourism and Heritage Association (ETHA) was recently launched and held its AGM in Boksburg North.
Fika Mokwana, the general secretary, explained that their first nominees were elected by the local tourism organisations (LTO) to serve as executive board members.
The ETHA functions therefore as a regional tourism organisation.
“ETHA will be a member-driven trade association that promotes tourism in the metro,” said Mokwana.
“We are the first such regional organisation, with seven LTOs in the City of Ekurhuleni.”
According to the AGM report, the objectives of the association will be:
• To create an enabling and facilitating environment for the tourism industry in the City of Ekurhuleni, in alignment with national and provincial legislation
• Lobbying relevant authorities and/or corporate houses for tourism funds
• Identifying all tourist attractions within the business and leisure community and compiling and maintaining a database of all attractions, product providers and market categories
• To assist in the establishment and maintenance of a regular tour operator/transport system for tourist movement within the city and provide a platform for all LTOs in the tourism industry
• To encourage LTOs to organise themselves
• To facilitate public-private partnership investments for sustainable tourism and job creation
• To revitalise the township tourism experience.
• To establish a commission-based “Book a Bed – Book a Tour” service operating from the tourism information centre or other approved location
• To liaise and consult with the relevant security/police services to ensure that tourism areas /activities receive excellent service so as to not affect tourists negatively or publicly affect the tourism image of our community.
• The municipality shall establish a fully funded, staffed, furnished and functional tourism information office in an appropriate area, which is to be operated and managed by ETHA in a sound and efficient manner, with the support of Ekurhuleni Tourism Department, the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, provincial office and corporate sponsors.
Contact the organisation on info@etha.org.za or 082 257 8668.
