Tour guides are of critical importance in the smooth and successful running of the tourism industry because their contact with tourists often has direct influence on the tourist’s experience in the country said MEC Mandla Nkomfe, at the SAB World of Beer in Newtown on Friday. With OR Thambo Airport being the key entry point into the country, Nkomfe called upon Gauteng tour guides to take heed of their great responsibility to ensure tourists received an excellent first impression of South Africa. Hosted by SAB World of Beer in Newtown and the Gauteng Tourism Authority, tour guides and official bodies from all over the province came together to celebrate what Nkomfe described as the tour guides’s day. Giving tour guides the aid and information they require has been the combined mandate of the GTA and DEAT in recent years. Urging officials and tour guides to strive for excellence in the sector, Nkomfe added that government would continue to provide support for legal guides, as well as continue its efforts at stamping out illegal operations which could impact negatively on the growing sector. "Guides are inadvertently the country’s brand ambassadors and how they handle their business as they interact with tourists goes beyond their own self interest," Nkomfe stressed. Taking its cue from the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, the GTA currently registers tour guides based on their tour guiding qualifications in compliance with the Tourism Second Amendment Act 70 of 2000 which, in turn, is in line with the World Federation of Tourist Guides Asociation's objectives. Some areas of compliance are service excellence, compliance and code of conduct.The MEC was also pleased to see that the sector was playing an active role in alleviating poverty by creating employment and entrepreneurial opportunities particularly for previously disadvantaged individuals. "It provides one of the rarest opportunities to create guides that emerge from those communities with interesting Gauteng stories and history to tell," added Nkomfe.
Nkomfe called on aspirant tour guides and those currently working in the sector to recognise guiding as a business like any other business and adhere to strict business principles to ensure that the goal of professionalism is achieved. The GTA’s role as aid to the industry was highlighted and publically offered to tour guides in the province. This year, the GTA has increased its assistance in the areas of marketing and advertising for tour guides in the province to enhance the sector’s visibility.
Contact information:Khumbu SitholeGauteng Tourism AuthorityTel: 011 639 1600 e-mail: khumbu@gauteng.netwww.gauteng.net