Call for Proposals: Tourism Events Hosting Support – South Africa

The Tourism Events Hosting Support Framework facilitates the implementation of the Tourism Sector Recovery Plan (TSRP), which acknowledges the need for targeted, coordinated actions to mitigate the adverse impact and sets the sector on the most optimal path to recovery, transformation and long-term sustainability.

The Tourism Events Hosting Support Framework provides a fair and transparent process of supporting events by setting aside resources (financial and non-financial) to support events contributing towards tourism recovery and boosting domestic tourism. The vision of the Tourism Events Hosting Support Framework is to create desirable places to live, visit and invest while boosting the hospitality & tourism industry, supporting economic development and job creation.

Aims and Objectives

The objectives of the Tourism Events Hosting Support Framework provide enabling conditions and support the hosting of events to stimulate and sustain domestic tourism:

• To generate employment opportunities and stimulate local economies towards inclusive economic growth;
• Showcase the country’s rich, diverse offerings and cultivate a culture of domestic travel;
• Increase tourism benefits by increasing visitation, overnight stays by citizens and tourists;
• Support the recovery of the sector and promote sustainability of existing events;
• Provide measures to support events’ seasonality and equitable geographical spread;
• Promote community connectedness, build social cohesion and generate interest in Tourist Guides services.

Priority Categories for Tourism Events

The department will support various events, which vary in number and size. Whilst there is a variety of events, the following categories present opportunities prioritised by the department:

• Sports and Recreation (e.g. township/village sports tournaments infused with visits to tourist attractions)
• Culture and Heritage (e.g. Cultural & Heritage festivals/events)
• Leisure and Lifestyle (e.g. Concerts, exhibitions/activations)
• Meetings and Workshops (e.g. Conferences and seminars)

Focus Areas for Tourism Events

Domestic Tourism is anchored on the successful hosting of events which bring stability to the sector by supporting local businesses and generating employment opportunities. Events are an essential motivator for tourism and provide direct benefits in marketing areas as domestic destinations.

• National Event – An event of national significance which attracts citizens (South African) with national media coverage. These are initiated and supported by the Department in collaboration with other government departments and public sector entities. These events drive a national imperative.
• Provincial Event – An event of provincial significance attracting local communities and visitors with provincial media coverage.
• Regional Event – An event of regional significance (District and Local municipal areas) which attracts regional citizens with regional media coverage.
• Community/Local Event – An event that takes place within a local area (e.g. village, township or small town) and attracts community members and visitors.

Nature of Support

• Financial Support
  • No cash payments will be made, but support will be limited to a certain amount per event, depending on the size of the event and the availability of funds. As there will be no cash payment, the Department will procure services on behalf of the requester and ensure that local suppliers are sourced through the Central Supplier Database.
• Non-financial Support
  • The non-financial/in-kind support will include all services that the Department can offer at no additional cost in support of the event: for example, event marketing on the departmental social media platform or assistance with event logistics, i.e. photography and media liaison services.

Eligibility Criteria

• The application process is open to all tax-compliant South African organisations and enterprises with an independent legal status, i.e., those registered with CIPC as a Non-Profit Company, a Private Company (Pty) Ltd.
• Compliant eligible South African citizens who can legally enter into contractual relations may also apply.
• No beneficiary will be awarded more than one tourism event hosting support simultaneously within a financial year. Organisations should declare any financial assistance received for the same event from the Department or other govemment departments/entities.
• Only one application per organisation/company/individual in one financial year is allowed. More than one application received in this regard will be disqualified.
• Preference will be given to projects that are co-financed or part-financed or have any other form of partnership, depending on the total budget and the scale of the project. Proof of such commitment must be provided.
• The Department will consider applications for support from members or professionals who require support for events aligned with the Department’s vision and strategic objectives.
• The Department will consider applications that are received a minimum of three (3) months before the event.
• The following documents need to be submitted with the application to be eligible:
  • Valid Tax Clearance Certificate;
  • Certified ID copies of shareholders or directors; and
  • A detailed company profile with three relevant references.

Evaluation Criteria

All proposals submitted will be evaluated against the criteria below fairly and consistently:

• Increase travel and or visitation to Villages, Townships and Small Towns;
• Attract visitors, stimulate local economies and create employment for citizens;
• Alignment to Local Economic Development Interventions;
• Promoting the use of Heritage Sites, State Owned or Youth or Women-owned facilities;
• Promote geographic spread and historically disadvantaged citizens and or areas;
• Promote multiple stakeholder collaboration and partnerships.

For more information, visit Department of Tourism.