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New CEO for South Africa Tourism
JOHANNESBURG – South African Tourism’s new chief executive Thandiwe January-McLean says she is keenly aware that she takes up the reigns at a momentous time in the tourism industry’s history.
The nation and the industry are hoping to ride a wave of interest created by the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The World Cup, she said, would extend and challenge the industry. But it also had the potential of leaving a legacy that would serve the nation well into the future
South African Tourism had taken far-reaching strategic decisions to invest heavily in regional, continental and emerging markets, January-McLean said.
The organisation had almost doubled its marketing budget for the Africa markets.
South African Tourism had also upped its investment significantly in the India and China markets that enjoyed growth of 18 and 10 percent respectively in 2009.
The marketing budget for China would grow by 20 percent and the budget for India would grow by 50 percent in the upcoming financial year, she said.
January-McLean is meeting with numerous tourism players and stakeholders in both the private and public sector to ensure inclusiveness and to make sure she understands the numerous visions for the industry and for the many ambitions (corporate, national and personal) that the industry served.
Her big focus in the next two and a half months will be the delivery of INDABA 2010.
INDABA will have a strong World Cup focus this year, and Meetings Africa later this month will show the global business tourism community how hosting the World Cup has enhanced South Africa’s conferences, meetings and association hosting capability.
“The industry and national bodies must collaborate and work together to grow arrivals if tourism is going to impact positively, and significantly, on economic growth and job creation,†January-McLean said.
Ian Jarrett
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