Rural tourism is increasingly a topic of great interest in public discourse about tourism development in the southern African region. Because of its potential and ability to create jobs and address rural poverty, many countries have embarked on policy initiatives to promote tourism development in rural areas.
So said Dr Salifou Siddo, Chief Executive of SME TradeLinks, in response to UN Tourism – the new name of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) – opening applications for the 2024 edition of its ‘Best Tourism Villages’ initiative.
SME TradeLinks is a 100% black-owned, level 2 BEE compliant company that links SME entrepreneurs, financiers, public- and private-sector procurement managers, export agents, and experienced business mentors and coaches, to form a powerful platform that supports and accelerates the growth of South African SMEs. Its incubation programmes often attract township and peri-urban tourism-related small business operators.
Over the past three…
