Current Edition >> Archive Section >> Special Features >> July 2001

Free State Economy / Free State Tourism

As a first step towards synergization between all stakeholders and roleplayers in the Free State tourism industry, our call is to focus on selling experience. We must sell to visitors the unique experience of having experienced the Free State in or way that would make them come back again and again .
To achieve and optimise this, the following seems to be prerequisites:
• Our service - at info centres, filling stations, guesthouses, hotels, restaurants, in taxis, you name it - must be exceptionally friendly, helpful and knowledgeable, i.e. of top quality.
• We will have to foster a spirit of co-operation within our industry - between government and private sector and between established and emerging / would be product owners. Meaningful advancement lies in teamwork.
• "Township tourism" has been identified as a priority area, because if we can do it properly, it could be a competitive advantage for our province. Even if facilities are in the beginning competitively not so good, the inputs and assistance of established product owners could help towards gradual upgrading and viability.
• Free Staters must bring themselves to see as mush of the province as possible in order to be knowledgeable "ambassadors" of our province. "To travel is to see" / Ho tsamya ke ho bona" / "Om te reis is om te sien" should be our slogan. Word of mouth is indeed the strongest marketing tool.
May these seeds fall into fertile ground and bear rich harvests for all of us.
Please let us have your views and inputs - busbulletin@emarket.co.za

News Flashes
• Hospitality and Tourism Day: This is being planned to be a huge day for tourism in our province, with inter alia information, brochures, talks, exhibitions, etc. It is being held on Wednesday, 17 July 2001, at the President Hotel. Fedhasa and Free State Tourism sincerely invite all interested parties and persons to attend. For more information, contact Liah at (011) 895 2399.

• Cleaning of border posts: Free State Tourism is at present planning a clean-up campaign at the four border posts on the Lesotho border. Businesses interested in sponsoring this high profile event, are requested to contact Reatile at (051) 430 8206.

• Folkloric Festival: An exciting Folkloric Festival with amongst others Norwegian dancers and other international participants is to be held in August 2001 at the Mmabana Cultural Centre in Thaba Nchu. Full details here next month.

• September Tourism Month: Traditionally September has been Tourism Month and this year it is again so. Free State Tourism wish to lay on a dual purpose programme: Firstly , to make all Free Staters more than ever aware of the tourism potential of their province and, secondly to make all visitors to our province during September feel very welcome and at home. For more information and the ideas of product owners, please contact Reatile at (051) 430 8206

• Hospitality & Industry Convention 2001: One of the prime events on the national calender, to be held 29 September - 2 October 2001 in Cape Town. Enquiries 082 854 7388 or Fedhasa (011) 886 2394.