KNYSNA NEWS - A two-day workshop to promote domestic tourism and empower emerging tour operators, took place earlier this month.
Petrus van Niekerk, the manager Economic Development at Knysna Municipality, said an educational tour, designed to impart knowledge through experience, was organised.
"In a collaboration between the Knysna Economic Development Department, the Garden Route District Municipality and the Department of Tourism, almost 45 people attended the workshop where experts in a number of related fields shared and unpacked their knowledge," Van Niekerk said.
The first phase at the Royal Hotel was chaired by Thulani Sibeko, director domestic tourism, at the national Department of Tourism. Sibeko highlighted the importance of tourism and said a tourism culture should be cultivated. "Domestic tourism is the backbone of any town's economy and it is important to adopt a culture that not only invite visitors but also encourages locals to explore their town."
On the second day the group visited the Knysna Heads and learnt that the Knysna Estuary is the second largest in the country. The next stop was Judah Square, the largest Rastafarian community in the country. Brother Zeb, an elder in the community, welcomed the group with the song One love, one heart and the resident tour guide stepped in and took the group through the community's journey, their struggles and ultimately their triumphs.
The final stop was MadAboutArt, an NGO in Dam-se-Bos that exists exclusively for children fighting HIV. Van Niekerk said they guide the children to change their narrative through art and education.
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