Technology creates new opportunities for tourism SMEs

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Technology is changing the travel and tourism landscape fast and, in turn, is developing new opportunities for South African small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to take complete advantage of.

 
This is as per Arnold February, Area Manager at Business Partners, who is speaking in light of Tourism Month, a year-on-year initiative in South Africa targeted at highlighting the significance of the industry and the opportunities that it offers. “This year, the theme for tourism month is Tourism and Digital Transformation, outlining the need for increased investment in digital technologies to bolster innovation and entrepreneurship in tourism.”

 
February observed that the travel and tourism sector is by now a huge contributor, both in terms of employment and gross domestic product GDP in South Africa. “A report by the World Travel & Tourism Council revealed that in 2017, the total contribution of travel and tourism to employment (including jobs indirectly supported by the industry) was 9.5 percent of total employment (1 530 500 jobs). This is expected to rise by 3.3 percent in 2018 to 1 580 500 jobs, after which an annual increase of 2.8 percent is expected, increasing the number of jobs in the sector to 2 082 000 in 2028 (11.1 percent of total).”

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