Current Edition >> Archive Section >> Special Features >> 23 Janaury 2007
Office and senior management
Having named its board of directors in September 2005 and having appointed early in 2006 Ms. Phomolo Mokuele as Chief Executive Officer, together with skeleton staff, the Free State Tourism Authority (FSTA) last year already made great strides in promoting and marketing the Free State tourism sector. Inter alia the FSTA compiled a marketing strategy for the industry; participated in Indaba 2006 in Durban; met with provincial and national stakeholders as well as international prospects; took over the main organizing of the 2006 Macufe Festival, which turned out a resounding success; participated in the World Travel Market tourism exhibition in London in November; and in December paid a highly fruitful visit to Germany.
Meanwhile the FSTA has set up offices at the MTN Building, 169 Nelson Mandela Drive, Bloemfontein and filled other top management positions. On 1 October 2006 Mr. Fani Moloi assumed duties of Chief Financial Officer and Ms. Mohlolo Mokofane as General Manager: Corporate services. The latter is responsible for human resources and office administration.
As from 1 December 2006 Mr. Khotso Thole has been appointed as General Manager: Marketing.
Currently interviews for some remaining vacant positions are still being conducted.
Without being lavish, the interior of the offices of the FSTA have been furnished so as to reflect the vibrancy and productiveness of the FSTA and the industry it is serving. The theme for the interior decorating is “Free State historical and cultural”. The premises is also to serve as a show window for tourism in the Free State.
Coming regional roadshows
The FSTA is planning to continue shortly with its regional roadshows in the province, meant to sell the mission and vision of the Authority to district and local municipalities in the various regions. The vision is to establish the Free State as the preferred inland tourism destination in South Africa.
According to Mr. Khotso Thole, GM: Marketing of the FSTA, the idea is not to say to municipalities “you are wrong, but rather let's integrate our aims and efforts so as to take us in the same direction – for the benefit of the whole province.” In this regard, the FSTA wishes to align with the IDP's of municipalities, within the framework of the FS Growth & Development Strategy and Asgisa. Both the latter programmes have prioritised tourism as a development sector.
Thole also pointed out that roadshows are about the sharing of ideas. Therefore the FSTA expects from district municipalities to invite all stakeholders, including private product owners, within their areas. Items on the agenda are amongst others tour packages, grading of tourism establishments, empowerment and marketing strategy.
As to dates for the roadshows, the FSTA is to hold first a meeting with Salga on 1 February 2007 to enlist further support as regards municipalities and then the dates for the roadshows in the five districts are to be announced.
Inroads into German tourism market
From 17-21 December 2006 the Chairperson of FSTA, Mr. Quinten Eister and the CEO Ms. Phomolo Mokuele, on invitation visited the two German provinces of Saxony and Saxony Anhalt, to discuss tourism cooperation with the Free State.
Both these provinces are, like the Free State, rural in character, agriculturally based and culturally orientated. During the visit a South African Cultural Evening in Leipzig was inter alia attended, while relationships have been established with the tourism authorities of the two provinces.
A German tourism marketing officer is to visit the Free State next month, while further ties are to be cemented when FSTA participates in the ITB Tourism Exhibition in Berlin in March 2007 as part of the Tourism SA stand.
The purpose with the German connection is to get the large number of German pensioners, who retire relatively early in life, to visit specifically the Free State in numbers during the coming European winter months December / January. The visits are to be so structured that all five regions in the Free State should benefit and also specifically HDI's.
It is envisaged that only after about three months of the current planning process should an idea be obtained of actual numbers as regards the prospective German tourism market for the Free State.
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