Since the launch of new and improved hospitality facilities, 2 341 visitors have experienced the purpose-built ‘Food from the Ancestors’ gastronomic experience, self-guided tours and other attractions at !Khwa ttu, a San heritage and education centre in Yzerfontein, in part funded by Tourism Product Development Fund.
At the !Khwa ttu centre, Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT) allocated R390 000 to update the restaurant facilities, the development of a new menu, a ‘Food from the Ancestors’ trail map, guided and self-guided tours which celebrates San heritage and tradition as well as additional marketing for the centre. These new facilities and efforts have led to a 30% increase in visitors to the centre in the last year meaning that nearly 100% of visitors are domestic travellers.
The ‘Food from the Ancestors’ gastronomic experience is supporting 39 local suppliers, nearly four times the original target of 10 suppliers when the project was first launched. In total, 52 staff members and interns benefit from the project which include 56% women of which 62% are youth and 80% are previously disadvantaged; and of the men, 70% are youth and 96% are previously disadvantaged. The centre aims to create another 16 jobs by the end of the year.
MPP Deidré Baartman says: “The funding provided by DEDAT and the !Khwa ttu centre has seen a great increase in the profitability of this tourism attraction on the West Coast which celebrates the important contributions of the San tribes. For every rand that the provincial Department spends, it unlocks nearly a rand in private investment into our tourism industry here in the Western Cape”.
The fund by the provincial department aims to incentivise private sector investment to diversify tourism offerings in the province which are affordable, accessible, ethical and supportive of industry transformation. To date, nearly R8 million has been spent in support of 15 tourism projects across the Western Cape which has helped to create and sustain more than 300 jobs.
MPP Deidré Baartman says: “Finding new and innovative ways to support the development and recovery of the tourism industry is critical as it is one of the job-generating sectors which has been deeply impacted by the travel bans and lockdown regulations of the last year. The work by the provincial department not only diversifies the tourism offerings in the Western Cape but also supports its recovery.”
