By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
The winning project of the 2022 Tourism Innovation Challenge has transformed into a fully-fledged company serving interests of tourism industry eight months after inception.
The Find and Go Marketing Application was launched Friday after it won last year in September through the innovation of Tumelo Mabanga.
Speaking at the launch, Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Secretary Ambassador Raphael Faranisi said the future of tourism lies in the youth, being the leaders of tomorrow and also the current and future tourists.
“The future of every nation lies in the development of its young generation and initiatives such as the one we are witnessing today, and are key in unlocking the full potential of young people.
“Given the vision, the right mentorship and guidance, the right skills, and adequate resources, young people have a great potential to contribute meaningfully to economic development and nation-building,” he said.
“What we are seeing today seamlessly aligns with the Government’s thrust on innovation in which the Government has deliberately placed youths at the core of the country’s innovation programs.
“The Government is cognisant of the dynamics in the tourism sector and the challenges associated with the ever-changing environments.
“Thus, youth participation is therefore critical in coming up with solutions for the gaps brought by such dynamics in the economy.”
Ambassador Faranisi said government had created an environment for the youth to come up with new ideas through the various innovation hubs in our tertiary institutions.
“As a Ministry, we believe that young people play an important role in the growth of the tourism sector.
“They can be agents of change and recovery and can be strong advocates for sustainable tourism.
“With their general increase in mobility, the duration of youth travel has been projected to increase in the future,” he said.
He said he hoped that Find and Go tool into consideration the desires of the youth by providing them with clear information on products and services that can enhance their experience and meet their budgets.
He said 68% of travel and sales in 2022 were done online. It is also estimated that online sales would generate 73% of the revenue in the tourism sector by 2026.
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