12 July 2013

Vredefort Dome Tourist Guides Association

Minutes of the meeting held on Friday 12 July 2013 at 09h00 in the Le Grand Chateau Hotel, Parys

The meeting was chaired by Christo Meyer.

Attendants were welcomed by the chairman. Attendants were asked to introduce themselves and express their expectations for the meeting, the purpose of the meeting being to discuss the possibility of the formation of an association for tourist guides in the Vredefort Dome.

The meeting was attended by the following 10 people:

Mfundo Ngcangca, Registrar, Freestate, DETEA

Carl Cilliers, Camp Director, Greystoke Adventures

Jan Fourie, Tourist Guide, Dome Impact Tours

Mpho Thukoani, Tourist Guide, Epilepsy S.A.

Thandiwe Msotywa, Tourist Guide, Vredefort

Esther Mokieni, Tourist Guide

Grace Mokhethi, Tourist Guide

Puleng Modikoe, Tourist Guide, Vredefort

Juius Moloi, FDDM Office, Sasolburg

Christo Meyer, Tourist Guide, Dome Tours CC

After all the members at the meeting have expressed their views and expectations, it was clear that there is, among the tourist guides, consensus that there is a need for the formation of atourist guides association for the Vredefort Dome area. Such an association should attend to the following:

–  Matters of training and registration of tourist guides

–  Interaction among tourists guides

–  Networking with:

–   Tourist Guides and tourists guide associations in other areas

–  Educational institutions

–  Hospitality and Adventure establishments

–  Corporate groups

–  Departments of Tourism (Provincial & National as well as Regional)

–  To assist Provincial Registrar to keep the data base of registered tourist guides up

to date

–  Regular meetings to discuss matters of mutual interest

It was finally agreed that the way forward would be that a tourist guides association be established.

It was also agreed that the association will be known as “ The Vredefort Dome Tourist Guides Association”.

It was further agreed that the area of operation of the association will be more or less the central impact of the Vredefort meteorite impact crater which includes the Vredefort Dome World Heritage Site, which is divided by the Vaal River. This means that the area of the association will in future cover the Freestate as well as the North-West Provinces and should not be seen as a region within one province.

A draft constitution for the association was distributed and read out by the chairman. Members were requested to go and study the document and e-mail any comments to Jan Fourie (jan.fourie@parys.co.za) in order for the next meeting to discuss and finalise the constitution.

The next meeting will be held on:   02 August 2013 at 9h00

Venue:  Godlife Church

83 Loop Street

PARYS

All tourist guides in the area were requested to attend the meetings and give their input in establishing the association. Tourist guides in the North West province will be invited to attend all future meetings.

The chairman expressed his thanks to everyone for their attendance and positive contributions and closed the meeting at 13h00.