The principal secretary for tourism Anne Lafortune attended the third extraordinary board meeting of the Regional Tourism Organization of South Africa (RETOSA) held at the Latitude Conference Centre in Durban on May 17.

Mrs. Lafortune was accompanied by the deputy chief executive of the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) Jenifer Sinon.

The aim of the meeting was to assess the progress of RETOSA’s transformation process. The process is to transform RETOSA from a public-sector organization to one where national tourism boards and the private sector take ownership of it.

RETOSA’s transformation process began in 2014 when the Southern African Development Community (SADC) ministers responsible for tourism agreed and directed the RETOSA board to look at ways of changing the organization to make it more relevant to member states, the private sector and all partners.

During the meeting, those present also discussed RETOSA’s financial sustainability including member states’ contribution and the cash flow of the organization.

The mandate of the new RETOSA will be to develop and promote a vibrant regional brand; market, promote and stimulate Southern Africa as a destination for tourism, trade, commerce and investment; and formulate and carry out the regional marketing strategy.

The Seychelles Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine will be discussing the new mandate of the RETOSA board with the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHTA) and the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).

SHTA and SCCI will be requested to take part as members on the new revamped board.

STB’s chief executive will also be a member of the new board.

It is to be noted that Kenneth Racombo was recently appointed as the head of resource mobilization and development and falls directly under the newly-recruited chief executive Desmond Golding of South Africa.

The new RETOSA board will be constituted in July 2017 where the private sector will be represented together with chief executives of tourism boards and it will be responsible for regional tourism Marketing.

Tourism policy which was previously a function of RETOSA will now be dealt with by a proposed tourism unit at the SADC secretariat.

WHAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ARTICLE:

RETOSA's transformation process began in 2014 when the Southern African Development Community (SADC) ministers responsible for tourism agreed and directed the RETOSA board to look at ways of changing the organization to make it more relevant to member states, the private sector and all partners.
The Seychelles Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine will be discussing the new mandate of the RETOSA board with the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHTA) and the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).
The new RETOSA board will be constituted in July 2017 where the private sector will be represented together with chief executives of tourism boards and it will be responsible for regional tourism Marketing.