The Cape Town Tourism Board has awarded tourism SMMEs Escape to the Cape and Ubizo Tours and Events with R50 000 each in support of their businesses’ growth. They will each also have access to business skills coaching.

The funds come from the Board Development Fund (BDF) which was made possible after the organisations board of directors decided to forgo their monthly remuneration in favour of developing a fund to assist small businesses in 2013.

Cape Town Tourism CEO Enver Duminy said the fund was not aimed to serve as a handout, but a hand up. He said for this reason, the fund was given to self-starters. “It’s about not just giving money or support, but also having a passionate business person on the other end, wanting to take that opportunity and make the journey to the next level possible.” Duminy thanked the Board for making the fund possible and also the City of Cape Town for their support.

Escape to the Cape was established in 2010 and has achieved steady growth. Owner Shaheed Ebrahim said this growth was possible because the company pioneered on board Wi-Fi by introducing this service in their vehicles. Ebrahim said he would use the funds to empower five additional transport operators so that they will be able to provide WiFi on their tours. He added that he would also be using some funds to invest in technology, but was tight-lipped about his plans, saying only that he would be launching a market first.

Ubizo Tours and Events offers cultural and historical tours. Owner Siyabulela Siyaka said he would use the funds to purchase a fleet of bicycles so that he could offer cycle tours of the Gugulethu township. He said guests on these tours would be able to experience a genuine engagement with the community.

Chairperson of Cape Town Tourism Board, Enver Mally, wished past and present winners well for their journey ahead: “Whilst the Board Development Fund is only a small gesture, it was something that we could implement immediately and is part of our bigger commitment to diversifying Cape Town’s tourism offering. On behalf of the Board I would like to congratulate this year’s winners of the Board Development Fund and we look forward to walking this path with you.”

One of the winners of the Board Development Fund in 2014, Ebrahim Osman, owner of Ozzie Golf Guides said: “As a previous winner of the Cape Town Tourism Board Development Fund, I’m still grateful for the winnings and exposure my business received.” Through the funds, Osman was able to provide destination educational to thirty caddies.

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“This exercise provided them with practical experience and valuable knowledge, which they can share with our golfing tourists in Cape Town,” he said, adding that these caddies spend five hours on the golf course with visitors. “[We] should regard them as grassroots ambassadors for the golf club, Cape Town and South Africa.”