CapeNature Prioritises Investment in Job Creation and Skills Development for Tourism Month

CapeNature, the Western Cape's conservation authority, has launched a significant initiative focusing on employment generation and skills enhancement during September's Tourism Month celebration. This initiative was unveiled at a CapeNature event on Thursday involving representatives from the Western Cape provincial government and other key tourism industry players. The objective is to encourage South Africans to tell their local stories and promote local brands, contributing to tourism growth and the overall economy.

The meeting was held in advance of World Tourism Day 2023 on September 27th, with a specific focus on enhancing the accessibility of local tourist sites for the working class and disabled people. Meanwhile, the affluent sector was urged to actively invest in local tourism just as they would in international travel.

The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has labelled this year's theme as "Tourism and Green Investments." Aiming to highlight the necessity for increased and focused investments not only for economic prosperity but also for the benefit of the people and the planet.

Razeena Omar, the Chief Executive Officer of CapeNature, reiterated the significance of September as a month when both tourism and national heritage are celebrated, saying,"Through our suite of infrastructure and facilities throughout the Western Cape, we depend on visitors to fund biodiversity conservation efforts."

The Western Cape's Economic Sector Support's chief director Ilse van Schalkwyk revealed that businesses have had a difficult time due to load shedding, and that they are promoting sustainable energy solutions such as solar panels and generators. With several CapeNature sites being off-grid, their green investment strategy includes the use of solar power and gas, contributing to eco-tourism efforts.