SA’s National Tourism Visitor Information System kicks off in January

Source: Tourism Update, 18/12/2018

This unprecedented alliance between key stakeholders in SA’s
private travel and tourism sector, travel solutions portal
Amadeus, and the National Department of Tourism (NDT), was
discussed at the Africa-Italy Summit/Indaba in October, with
progressive steps being taken to activate these first two
programmes.
The alliance was consolidated through an Advisory Panel comprising
representatives of the former sitting on December 5. The
government-industry partnership is governed through a general
assembly of industry stakeholders led by the Advisory Panel, with
the actual project development being outsourced by Amadeus to
appointed, local economic empowerment companies in SA. The NDT
will act as Deputy Chair of the Advisory Panel, and Thebe Tourism
Group as the appointed administrator.
“The hands-on involvement of the private sector, on the other
hand, ensures we leverage existing resources and expertise that
NTVIS and the Academy require, to deliver the services, products
and skilled professionals that will transform our industry,” says
Sandile Ntseoane, Chair of the Advisory Panel and General Manager
Southern African Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association.
Project breakdown and deliverables
The NTVIS will commence project work in three main areas:
1. Infrastructure to improve visitor experience, including an
industry curated visitor portal and app
2. A data hub, to equip the sector’s businesses with improved
insight to inform business strategies and decision making
3. Booking tool and business application to boost access to
the global market of SMEs
NTVIS project delivery will be spread out, with content and
functionality made available in phases from as early as May 2019.
Jerry Mabena, CEO of Thebe Tourism Group, says: “A major goal of
the NTVIS initiative is to stimulate business opportunities within
the tourism and related sectors among those in rural and peri-
urban environments; and this has also been a big focus for us as a
business. South Africa has such enormous potential for both
domestic and international tourism; we must ensure that the
benefits reach beyond the iconic, well-established destinations
and the big industry players, to marginalised communities living
on the doorstep of spots that can attract tourists too.”
The Excellence Training Academy, which aims to bridge the gap
between what businesses in the travel and tourism industry need in
skills and what mainstream academia offers, will begin training at
the end of January 2019.