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Youth Tourism New Venture Creation Competition and Awards Ceremony

18 February 2009 The ten top youth tourism entrepreneurs for 2008 will be crowned at an award ceremony in Kimberley’s Mayibuye Centre, Galeshewe, on Saturday 21 February 2009.

Pat Mokhali, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Tourism, Environment and Conservation, said this is the first ever initiative of its kind and aims to create many more activity-based tourism products on offer in the Northern Cape while at the same time the issue of youth unemployment is addressed.

The Department will hand each winner a business start-up grant to the value of R25 000, said Mokhali. In addition the Department and the Northern Cape Youth Commission will offer technical advice to ensure that these youth-owned small tourism enterprises remain sustainable in the long term.

According to Drinie Samson, Director of Tourism Management in the province, the finalists will participate in a workshop on entrepreneurship, business planning and making a presentation on Friday 20 February 2009 before lining up for judgment day on Saturday where each finalist will be grilled by a panel of nine judges who come from government, the Northern Cape Youth Commission, organised business and the private sector.

Garrith Bezuidenhoudt, Chairperson of the Northern Cape Youth Council revealed youth between the ages of 17 and 25 were targeted as they are most challenged group in finding employment. He claimed this competition will allow the youth an opportunity to become self-employed and even employ more people as their businesses grow bigger, thus contributing to the economic prosperity of the province.

Samson said twenty three finalists were selected from 146 entries received and made known that they submitted a mixed bunch of business proposals ranging from Adventure tourism, tourism arts and crafts, Accommodation, Events Management, Tourism Community Projects, Environment and Conservation Awareness Projects, Tours, Retail Shops, Historical Tourism, etc.

The finalists also come from virtually every corner of the province, Samson said, and they are:

• Noluthando Ndlovu (Kimberley)
• Yvette Nkadimang (Kuruman)
• AJ Vos ( Port Nolloth)
• Lizelle Matthys (Steinkopf)
• Janice Vilander (Upington)
• Elandi Smith (Ulco)
• Lorenza Josop (Kuboes
• Mercia de Wet (Kuboes)
• Jethro Rammutla (Kimberley)
• Zaack van Wyk ( Concordia)
• Lesego Kantani (Kimberley)
• Refilwe Brandt ( Kimberley)
• Tebogo Sereo (Kimberley)
• Garth Johannes ( Kimberley)
• Tebogo Makwati (Kimberley)
• Pulane Pharasi (Kimberley)
• Freddy Moncho (Kimberley)
• Ashley Bristow (Kimberley)
• Gerrith Hans (Kuboes)
• Daniel Stoman (Alexanderbay)
• Leslene Bock ( Alexanderbay)
• Theodore Zinja ( Kimberley)
• Theodore Cloete (Lekkersing)


The ten winners will be selected based on the following criteria:

• Future sustainability of business idea.
• Uniqueness and relevance of business idea.
• Entrepreneurial thinking.
• Management and financial instinct.
• Ability to activate target markets.
• Personality of candidate.

Issued by the Department of Tourism, Environment and Conservation

Mr. Mandla Ndzilili
Tel: 053-807 73733
Fax: 053-832 1026
Email: mndzilili@ncpg.gov.za

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