Johannesburg – A new activity in the form of paddle boating launched on Thursday, 3 November 2016 to add to the festival of exciting activities already available at the iconic Orlando Towers precinct in Soweto to amuse visitors.
“Bringing adventure activities to Soweto is our tradition and it has worked out since 2010,” says Kgomotso Pooe of Soweto Outdoor Adventures, the company behind introduction of Paddle Boats. The company already offers quad biking, go-karting, paintball, rock climbing, electric cycling, boot camp, Soweto amazing race and township tours. Pooe adds: “Paddle boats are loads of fun, bringing visitors nothing but adventure and outdoor facilities in one of the biggest townships. There is no better way to enjoy the Pimville Dam with its surrounding beautiful scenery and a view of the famous Orlando twin towers.”
It is hoped that the new product offering will help attract growing numbers of visitors to Soweto. The township is steeped in a rich political heritage that has been its draw card over the years, but it is evolving into an entertainment and lifestyle destination as well.
According to Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA) CEO, Siphiwe Ngwenya, entertainment and lifestyle products and experiences are the foundation of the promotional drive to increase visitation in the Gauteng City Region. “When the product and experiences innovations happen in the townships, they have us achieve the twin objective of growing the economies of the townships,” he says.
“Entrepreneurs such as the ones from Soweto Outdoor Adventures have an invaluable role to play in innovating tourism products and experiences that will grow the visitor economy in the townships. The Township Economy Revitalisation Programme of the Gauteng provincial government recognises township tourism as a core focus area.”
Ngwenya adds that tourism has the potential to create jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities where people live. “This could assist us in solving some of the apartheid spatial development problems that we have inherited from the previous political dispensation. “It is, therefore, absolutely critical that we continue to enhance our product and experience offerings to attract even more visitors to our townships. It is with this in mind that we congratulate Kgomotso Pooe on the launch of the new product – he represents an example that other entrepreneurs, especially the youth, should strive to emulate.”
Soweto Outdoor Adventures and Pooe clinched the Township Entrepreneurship Award and Youth Entrepreneur of the Year at the inaugural Gauteng Township Entrepreneurship Awards held in March 2016. The company reinvested winnings from the awards into the business.
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