Community Based Tourism Development Fund (CBTDF)

The fund is operated under the auspices of the City of Cape Town’s Economic Development and Tourism Department and is fully funded by local government.  Other partnerships include the Local Tourism Bureaux and the community projects themselves.  The objective of the CBTDF is to increase the number of local people involved in providing services to tourists and the tourism industry so as to foster local ownership, power and participation in various tourist related enterprises.

Innovation

The innovative elements of the fund is that community based tourism must be government-led. Should no funding be available it would be unlikely that many projects would come to fruition.  The criteria for selection include: (1) Diversification of the tourism product in the region,  (2) Promotion of diversification of ownership, management and control by disadvantaged communities, (3) Projects focussing on cultural heritage and benefiting all interested parties within the communities, and (4) Projects that boost tourism in disadvantaged areas or the participation of those communities in tourism.

Effectiveness

Since 1999, 16 community-based tourism projects have been funded.  One such project, the Two Oceans Craft and Culture Centre R200 000 flowed directly into the local community of Masiphumelele. Each of the projects has records of employment that is reported to the City during the projects kick-start year.

In 1999/2000 funding was provided to the Lwandle Migrant Labour Museum, Adventure Kalk Bay, Two Oceans Craft & Cultural Centre and the Look Out Facility. In 2000/2001 funds were forwarded to the Tourism Development Centre in Langa, Sivuyile Tourism Development Centre (Gugulethu), Tourism Development Centre (Khayelitsha) and the Mkhaya Music School in Nyanga. In 2001/2002, Imvubu Nature Tours, SMME development of Individual businesses in the Two Oceans Craft & Cultural Centre, Cafda Stables Craft & Cultural Centre and Community Women Action were given support.

In 2002/2003 Brdwirecraftart, Lwandle Migrant Labour Museum Imbizo Kitchen Restaurant, The Langa Pass Office (Heritage Museum) and the Sonke Cape Route tourism information office were provided with funding.

Poverty Impact

Job creation and the acquisition of skills are the net effect of the CBTDF.

• Adventure Kalk Bay: 23 people employed. Turn-over for the past 5 months is R56 000. Training provided includes life skills and accredited Satour field guide training.
• Two Oceans Craft & Culture Centre: 4 people employed. Training included on-site training for labourers, small business skills and life skills.
• Lwandle Migrant Labour Museum: 8 people employed. Monthly turn-over of R10 645. 
• Mkhaya Music School: 4 employed. Musical concept training. Sivuyile Tourism Development Centre: 2 permanent jobs and 10 for crafters. Sales of craft generate R3000.00 per month.
• Imvubu Nature Tours: 10 people employed. Training included field guide and environmental education. Small business skills, swimming training, boat handling skills, turbo cash training and 2 week Business skills/business plan training (SAB).
• Cafda Stables Craft & Culture Centre: 9 employed. Training includes social skills and small business training. Arts and craft development. Catering and Baking.
• Langa Pass Office: 8 employed. Training in field guiding and theatre/drama.
• Sonke Cape Route: 6 employed. Business skills training, technical training, mentorship and SMME development.
• New Cross Roads Street Names Heritage Programme: 18 employed over 6 months. Community Women Action: 4 employed. 32 people have been trained as chefs, caterers, welders and in sewing, arts and craft. Small business skills also provided.
• Bdwire Artcraft: 12 short term jobs created (contracts 3,6, 12 months). Income of R70 daily for crafters, and commission on sale.
• Look Out Hill – Khayelitsha: Crafters will receive product development training and business skills. A grant R1 million has been forwarded.
  
  Sustainability

The City has a policy of job creation through tourism.. Commitment from the city was needed to establish the fund and to ensure that it operates effectively. Problems encountered include lack of staff capacity in order to manage the funded projects from the City.  The fund may be expanded into a three-year phasedfunding programme to ensure sustainability of funded community projects instead of one-year kick-start financing. The fund is in the process of being reviewed as part of the Tourism Development Strategy that is being established for the City. The total costs to the city range between R1.5 million and R3 million depending on the amount of projects funded.

Replication

The fund can be replicated elsewhere should the necessary funding be made available.  The main constraints facing others offering the fund may be managing the fund should there be staff capacity issues and budget cuts.

Partnerships

• City of Cape Town – Funding, Project Management, Monitoring, Technical Support
• Local Tourism Bureaux -  Monitoring, Technical Assistance