The Tourism Society of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) School of Tourism Management recently hosted a tourism awareness walk on the campus in Mahikeng in celebration of September as Tourism Month.

The aim of the event was to create awareness and foster a culture of visiting the country’s tourism attractions, thereby boosting local economies through tourism investment.

The tourism walk was also meant to raise awareness of heritage, nature-based, cultural, and other tourism products found in and around Mahikeng.

Students, staff and other participants walked 8,5 km around the campus before visiting tourist attractions around Mahikeng such as the Mahikeng Game Reserve, Scouts Centre, Mahikeng Museum and Montshioa Cultural Village.

The guest speaker at the event was the MEC for Tourism in the North West Province, Honourable Desbo Mohono.

“We mark the beginning of spring and heritage month, but we also celebrate September as Tourism Month,” said Ms Mohono. “This is the period were we expect everybody to take it easy and visit Bokone Bophirima.”

“During September the department, along with the Deputy Minister of Tourism, will launch a big event – the National Tourism Career Exhibition. School learners from Grade 8 upwards will visit the exhibition to learn more about tourism, and most importantly to attend presentations by experts and industry moguls who will share their experiences.

“Activities will include the Gogo’s Bus Tour, Open Park Week, the Lilizela Tourism Awards, the Trade and Investment Lekgotla and many other events that will be of great importance to our people,” she added.

“The tourism awareness walk has benefited our students in many ways,” said Prof Marilyn Setlalentoa, the deputy vice-chancellor for Mahikeng Campus operations. “Not only did they have the opportunity to network, but they also broadened their knowledge of tourism and what our country in general and the Mahikeng area in particular, has to offer. Thank you to all the stakeholders who made this event successful.”

 Academics in the School of Tourism Management, Dr LiseboTseane-Gumbi, Prof Haretsebe Manwa and Dr Dudu Dlamini-Boema, participated in the tourism awareness walk.

 Honourable MEC for Tourism in the North West Province, Ms Desbo Mohono.