mesopartner Stimulating the Tourism Sector in Hazyview Local and Regional Economic Development

mesopartner What is Participatory Appraisal of Competitive Advantage (PACA ® )? Participatory Appraisal of Competitive Advantage Involve local stakeholders Motivate local stakeholders to take an active role in an LED initiative Transfer know-how to local stakeholders and businesses Do a quick scan of the local economy Assess and refocus ongoing local economic development activities Identify strengths, skills, talents and opportunities Identify business and LED opportunities

mesopartner What is the objective of PACA? Identify, with a rapid appraisal, the main strengths and weaknesses of the local economy and its main sectors (duration: weeks) Identify options for practical activities to strengthen the competitiveness of firms -- Criteria: –feasible with local resources –quickly implementable (starting next week) –quick, visible results (with 3 months)

mesopartner What have we been doing? (9 June 2003 – 12 June 2003) 20 interviews with stakeholders and businessmen Mini-workshops with –Local Government officials –Accommodation, B&B, Time shares, Self-catering –Wheel Operators, Safari & Adventure –Supply Industries –Hotel & Conferences About 150 contacts

mesopartner The Kick-off Workshop Prepa- ration: * Orga * Ad- vance info Kick- off Wks Results- Workshop: Diagnosis + Proposals Interviews Mini-workshops Pre- sen- tation event Imple- mentation PACA-Project PACA-Exercise (2-3 weeks) Fieldwork (1-2 weeks) Hy- po- the- sis Wks Way for- ward Wks Presen- tation Event

mesopartner Structure of this presentation 1.What is the first diagnosis of the tourism sector in Hazyview? 2.What are the first proposals to promote the tourism sector in Hazyview?

mesopartner Focus-areas considered in the Hazyview Tourism PACA ® Nature Culture Adventure & Sports Infrastructure (Tourism & Town) Cross-cutting Issues

mesopartner 1. What is the first diagnosis of the tourism sector in Hazyview?

mesopartner Nature: Strong points and assets Accessibility of natural assets Diversity of natural assets Widening range of activities based on natural environment Growing importance of ecotourism

mesopartner Depletion of natural resources Dependency on KNP Poor relationships between business and KNP Malaria Nature: Weak points and shortcomings

mesopartner Culture: History, crafts, practices, dress, dance, art, music, folk lore, relation with nature + more Unique, diverse and African cultures Foreign visitors drawn to authentic experience Shangana village a success, created many jobs Culture: Strong points and assets

mesopartner Underexploited rich cultural heritage No reflection of culture in appearance of Hazyview Arts and crafts seen by some actors as nuisance, not as asset Limited evening entertainment given 6000 beds in HV Linkage to HTA weak Limited involvement by blacks Culture: Weak points and shortcomings

mesopartner New use of natural environment Wide variety of innovative & diverse activities Highest density of adventure activities in Africa Wide scope for expansion Possibility to focus on entire family entertainment Addressing local and international sophisticated demand Few competitors Adventure & Sports: Strong points and assets

mesopartner Seasonal business Fairly high level of investment Little collective promotion Underutilised black market Substandard operators entering the market and threatening the image of Hazyview Adventure & Sports: Weak points and shortcomings

mesopartner Central locality Abundance of accommodation Booming economy Retail outlets Major new property investments Huge potential for further development Infrastructure (Tourism & Town): Strong points and assets

mesopartner Unattractive appearance No clear positioning as tourism town Fragmented development No public land for focussing new development Poor infrastructure Poor services (power and telecoms) Weak enforcement of regulations Infrastructure (Tourism & Town) Weak points and shortcomings

mesopartner Active tourism association Desire by blacks and whites to work together Government and business wanting to cooperate Widespread realisation that joint action needed Local enthusiasm about re-focussing town to enhance tourism potential for all Cross-cutting issues: Strong points and assets

mesopartner High crime levels Conflicts over resources – eg land claims, use of pavements for vending Racial divisions still evident Lack of cooperation between business and government Weak local government presence Cross-cutting issues: Weak points and shortcomings

mesopartner 2. What are the first proposals to stimulate the tourism sector in Hazyview?

mesopartner Nature Proposal: Develop hiking trails and birding Differentiate from KNP by offering more fulfilling learning experience Increase role of guides in developing itineraries

mesopartner Introduce HTA awards/competition for best –Shebeen, Township Tours –Folk lore, Stories, Legends –Innovation in cultural tourism Establish Shebeen tours Extend existing newsletter to local newspaper to keep the broader tourism community informed Link the Cultural service providers, arts& crafts to the HTA Mediate between Hawkers & Local Government about facilities Teach craft sellers to ask customers, why precisely they preferred certain products Explore business opportunity to supply goods to hawkers Culture: Proposal

mesopartner Repackage adventure activity offers: – Introduce adventure dense-full-package (e.g. 9 adventure activities in 3 days) –Family Adventure Activities (esp. for children < 10) Adventure & Sports: Proposal:

mesopartner Initiate redesign process to make town attractive Redesign road signage to promote Hazyview as a tourist destination and gateway Develop support group to bulk buy supplies Infrastructure (Tourism & Town): Proposal:

mesopartner Widen the HTA to include more black business Facilitate joint marketing strategy Agree on protecting a Hazyview brand Define principles for protecting the brand Join the Nelspruit LTO Promote focussed interaction between white and black business around business opportunities Facilitate interaction between local government and land owners Cross-cutting issues: Proposal:

mesopartner Thank your for your attention!

mesopartner The PACA ® team in Hazyview Shawn Cunningham (GTZ Project Manager) Valérie Hindson Doug Hindson John Lawson Dumi Mhlongo Nozipho Ngwenya Rehana Pilodia Christian Schoen ( mesopartner ) With support from the Hazyview Tourism Association (HTA)

mesopartner Contacts Shawn Cunningham Valérie Hindson Doug Hindson John Lawson Dumi Mhlongo Nozipho Ngwenya Rehana Pilodia Christian Schoen PACA ® is a registered trademark of mesopartner: