DEDAT Tourism Ambassador Co-developer Workshops were recently convened in Drakenstein (Paarl) and Bergrivier (Piketberg), bringing together a diverse cross-section of municipal leadership, tourism stakeholders, tourism businesses, heritage representatives, NPOs, and community-based development organisations.

As a first-of-its-kind initiative, the workshops created a shared space to critically engage with the realities facing local government and tourism systems, while collectively envisioning pathways for inclusive socio-economic development through tourism. A key insight emerging from these engagements is the structural disconnect between economic development resources and tourism intelligence and capacity—despite a clear and consistent commitment across stakeholders to leverage tourism as a driver of local prosperity.

The process has been both instructive and encouraging. It has highlighted not only systemic gaps, but also the depth of passion and intent within municipalities and the tourism sector to address them. The next phase will focus on defining actionable pathways—strengthening partnerships between economic development and tourism, deepening collaboration between tourism leadership and commercial operators, and creating clearer linkages with youth training and employment initiatives. A central priority will also be the development and market integration of community-based tourism enterprises.

Ultimately, the aim is to co-develop a practical, scalable model for tourism-led economic development that can be replicated across regions.

We extend our sincere appreciation to all participants. Your insights and contributions are instrumental in shaping solutions that address local economic development needs, social and equity concerns, advance youth employment, and embed responsible tourism practices—while contributing to a model relevant far beyond your own regions.