FS gains stature from hosting big events

Says deputy minister of tourism amidst a packed calendar of events of international and national prestige in the province…

The deputy minister of tourism, Thokozile Zasa, says the Free State is gradually positioning itself as an ideal and capable host of major events in the country and that this should have positive economic spin offs from soaring tourism statistics.

Xasa says the province has already carved itself a niche on the national calendar with the Macufe event and that this provides a perfect foundation for possible growth.
The deputy minister said this at the second provincial global investor trade bridge in Bloemfontein this week.

“You already have Macufe, which is a brand, and I must say the Free State has always taken a lead in what needs to happen and of late the province seems to be taking a lead in every other sphere,” she said.

Xasa recalled that the province recently hosted both the national launch of tourism month and a public lecture addressed by tourism minister Derek Hannekom.

She noted that the province was going the same developmental route as the country with a recorded growth of 3.3 percent in the second quarter of the year.

She however cautioned that economical gains needed to be sustained, something that can be achieved when government and the private sector commit to the undertaking of paying service providers in 30 days as required by the law.

“According to statistics, Free State is still the least visited province in the country. This can be reversed through proven big-event management that characterized the launch of the National Tourism Careers Expo here a week ago.

“South Africans’ expectations of sustainable jobs have to be met and endeavours such as the global investor trade bridge speak directly to that. I call on South African business present here to lead the way in investing in the Free State.

“South Africans have to be the ones that chat the way in investing here, I mean it only makes sense to have confidence in yourself before expecting other people to do the same. Otherwise who would be prepared to invest in someone who does not have confidence in themselves?”