14 October 2005
Windhoek — The Tour and Safari Association of Namibia (TASA) recently announced its first Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (BBEE) member, Camel Thorn Transfers & Tours.
"The tourism industry became the first sector in Namibia to produce a Transformation Charter on BBEE. As a result, the Tourism Council, an initiative started by TASA, accepted the responsibility of monitoring the progress of the implementation of BBEE in the tourism industry", TASA said in a statement. "In the spirit of the Charter, TASA decided at their recent AGM, to introduce a new membership category, namely BBEE membership. In order to qualify for this membership category, applicants should be Namibian organizations, bodies, companies, closed corporations, societies, associations or individuals engaged in the professions of Tourism Service Providers, with or without own vehicles or other forms of transportation, whose main activities are to develop, market, sell, undertake and/or to arrange tourism packages to and within Namibia."
Dina and Joseph Karuuombe receive their TASA Membership Certificate from TASA Board member Paul Brinkmann
Applicants will have to prove that a minimum of 75% of the ownership/management of the body making the application are persons who can be legally described as previously disadvantaged Namibians. Camel Thorn Transfers & Tours, established by Dinah & Joseph Karuuombe, specializes in airport transfers and shuttles within the city of Windhoek, as well as short tours to Etosha and Sossusvlei. Under the guidance of TASA board member Paul Brinkmann of Sense of Africa, Camel Thorn complied with all the requirements for membership of the association, including public liability insurance, road transportation permits as well as registration with the NTB. Currently their fleet consists of a VW Micro Bus and a Toyota Venture. According to Mrs. Karuuombe, this is merely the start, and they aim to expand their fleet and services.
Further mentorship from TASA will include marketing as well as pricing and basic business practices. A workshop to cover these aspects will be hosted by TASA in the beginning of November for all newcomers to the tourism industry as well as potential BBEE members.
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