E-Tourism Frontiers in partnership with Cape Town Tourism and Microsoft recently carried our first full digital tourism seminars in Cape Town. While the city is home to our annual E-Tourism Africa Summit each year, this was the first training seminars we have held, using the same highly practical mode we use in destinations around the world. The week of training had separate sessions for hoteliers and tour operators. During the seminars we equipped almost 200 small businesses in the tourism industry with the tools to take their businesses online and training to use technology for better business outcomes.
These seminars were supported by Microsoft as part of the 4Afrika initiative. Mteto Nyati, managing director at Microsoft South Africa, says, “Through Microsoft 4Afrika access to technology and skills development pillars, we are providing opportunities for small businesses to acquire 21st Century skills needed to take their businesses online for better profitability. We can only do this through partnerships and programmes such as this one. In turn, this strengthens Africa’s economic development to achieve global competitiveness. “Through another worldwide initiative called CityNext, Microsoft aims to create more business opportunities for small businesses, which also spans the tourism sector. In partnership with the City of Cape Town, one of the worldwide cities identified as part of this initiative, we are looking to support government to deliver on its National Development Plan objective to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality in South Africa by 2030,” says Nyati.
“The World Travel Market Global Trends Report 2013 estimates that world online travel growth is expected to continue to rise steadily in the next five years at a 9.5% compound annual growth rate. Tourism-focused SMEs must position themselves to attract, engage and interact with customers. Microsoft South Africa and online training partner, eTourism Frontiers, are working to create platforms to guide and train SMEs to be competitive in this demanding and challenging space,” says Enver Duminy, CEO of Cape Town Tourism.
Nyati echoes that for a small business to succeed in the tourism industry today, it needs to have a big presence online. Modern devices and services from Microsoft and its partners can help by enabling organisations create and update their business’ online presence. In addition, these same devices and cloud services allow companies to manage their daily operations more efficiently, communicate with customers better, and collaborate with their suppliers and partners.
“It is encouraging to know global players are recognising that small businesses drive local economies. The eTourism Workshop has armed me with knowledge on the latest Microsoft tools and free applications to enable us to become a global force by having an online and social media presence. The workshop gave me an opportunity to grow my guest lodge and help us market our country and city as a tourist destination of choice,” says Angie Polizzi, owner of The Renaissance Guest Lodge and a Cape Town Tourism member.
See more information on Microsoft 4Afrika here.
