Tourism Month is celebrated in September every year, providing a month-long focus on the importance of the tourism sector to the South African economy.

If you have ever considered starting a business in the tourism sector, there are two tourism funding opportunities you should look into. 

Tourism funding options:

• Tourism Transformation Fund (TTF): The Fund enables potential black investors to make capital investments in the tourism sector by combining grant funding from the Department with loan financing or equity contributions from the NEF.

• Green Tourism Incentive Programme (GTIP): The GTIP provides eligible tourism businesses with grant assistance on a sliding scale from 30% to 90% of the total cost of implementing eligible water and energy resource efficiency initiatives, with a limit of R 1 million.

Both funds are intended for use by tourism-related businesses, such as accommodation, restaurants, and tour companies. These are not your only options, however, for everything you need to know about applying for funding, see below:

New This Week (05 September 2023)

Budget-Friendly Business Ideas for StudentsLaunch Your Online Store WebinarA Guide to Fish Farming in South Africa

How To Start A Tourism Business In South Africa

If you find joy in showcasing South Africa's unique and fascinating features to visitors, the tourism sector might be for you. When working in tourism you need to be aware of the minimum requirements attached to your business. This relates to all businesses from operating a restaurant, lodge, bed and breakfast to offering guided tours.

Things to consider when opening a tourism business:

• Be sure that you have all the required business licenses  from health and safety certification to liquor licenses 

• The Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) has an internationally accepted Star Grading system, be sure to apply to receive your Grading Certificate and plague.

• Be sure that your staff have the correct qualifications. This includes professional driver’s permits and a certificate of a first aid course for tour guides.

Increase Your Professional Network With Founders. 

Looking for ways to increase your professional network? Then Founders is the community for you. It is not always easy to find like-minded individuals, this is where the Founders community becomes incredibly helpful.

Reasons to grow your network:- Find career advice and support- Raise your professional profile- Get access to business opportunities- Gain a different perspective

Join the waitlist to become part of this community.

How To Navigate A Bad Pitch

Simply put, a sales pitch is a short, optimized presentation that packages your offerings in simple terms. It’s important that entrepreneurs get into the habit of bouncing back from this sort of setback, says Shirley Anthony who is an author, speaker and owner of marketing consultancy company, Marketing Breakthroughs.

When a pitch goes wrong

• Allow yourself to be disappointed

• Review what went wrong

• Role play for future success

• Research your sales prospect before your next pitch 

One of the biggest reasons pitches fail is the wrong pitching strategies. For ways to optimise your pitching strategy read the article below:

Share Your Networking Tips with Fellow Entrepreneurs!!

Networking is the lifeblood of entrepreneurial success, and we believe that the collective wisdom of our community can fuel remarkable growth. That's why we're excited to invite you to participate in a dynamic conversation dedicated to sharing valuable networking tips and experiences.

Why Share Your Networking Insights?

Networking is not just about connecting; it's about sharing knowledge, strategies, and insights to empower others. By joining this conversation, you can:

1. Pay It Forward: Your experiences and tips can inspire and guide fellow entrepreneurs, especially those just starting their journey.

2. Expand Your Network: Engaging in meaningful conversations with other entrepreneurs can lead to valuable connections and collaborations.

3. Learn and Adapt: Hearing different perspectives and strategies can help you refine your networking approach.

Join the discussion with the Startwise Forum.

How To Advertise Online 

There is no denying that digital marketing is the way forward, customers are online, and your business should be too. If you are looking for ways to benefit from digital marketing, we have the e-book for you. 

What you will learn:

1. How educating your customers on your products can lead to sales

2. What social media platforms you should be using for your business

3. Tactics for lead generation

4. Ways to grow your email list

The following guide will show you how to implement successful digital strategies into your business without breaking the bank.