Media Statement: Committees on Tourism and Science Welcome National Astro-Tourism Strategy's Implementation Plan
The Portfolio Committee on Tourism and the Portfolio Committee Science, Technology and Innovation received a briefing yesterday from the departments of Tourism and of Science, Technology and Innovation on the National Astro-Tourism Strategy implementation plan.
Outlining the purpose of the joint meeting, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation, Ms Tsakani Shiviti, said the portfolio committees are particularly interested on how the strategy will bring communities closer to these innovations to empower them to understand and participate as astro-tourist ambassadors.
T he committees appealed to the departments to activate the Tourism Public–Private Partnership Toolkit, developed by the National Treasury to enhance the tourism infrastructure in Carnarvon and Sutherland in the Northern Cape. They also urged the departments to use the governance structures prescribed in the National Tourism Sector Strategy to bring on board local and provincial stakeholders, as tourism is a concurrent function.
Presenting the joint strategy, the departments, led by the Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Blade Nzimande and by Deputy Tourism Minister, Ms Maggie Sotyu, said South Africa is the first country in the world to have an astro-tourism strategy. Mr Nzimande, meanwhile, commented that this joint meeting is important as it will provide the departments with advice and insights on the work they are doing.
The astro-tourism strategy seeks to enhance the benefits of transformation and inclusivity flowing from the astro-tourism sector. It also seeks to enhance destination competitiveness through optimal use of new and existing infrastructure and to strengthen South Africa's astro-tourism competitiveness through deliberate collaboration efforts and destination development.
The strategy has three pillars – indigenous celestial narratives and human capacity development; infrastructure development; and inclusive tourism growth and partnerships – and requires an estimated budget of over R352 million.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Tourism, Ms Lungi Mnganga-Gcabashe, encouraged South African Tourism to market astro-tourism, while the Tourism Business Council of South Africa should involve itself in developing tourism infrastructure in Carnarvon and Sutherland.
Ms Shiviti said the committee is scheduled to embark on an oversight visit to the Northern Cape to assess for itself the progress achieved in implementing the strategy.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
5 days ago
- Zawya
South Africa: ANEW Hotels & Resorts adds iconic Garden Route hotel to its portfolio
ANEW Hotels & Resorts is pleased to announce the upcoming addition of a new property to its growing national footprint. Effective 1 October 2025, The Wilderness Hotel, a long-standing favourite on the Garden Route coastline, will officially join the group under the name ANEW Resort Wilderness Garden Route. With 19 properties now part of the group since its inception in 2017, this marks ANEW's second property in the Western Cape. Situated just east of George along the N2, with easy access to Knysna, Mossel Bay and Oudtshoorn, this well-established property among leisure and business travellers to the region, offers 150 rooms and a rich history as one of the region's oldest hospitality landmarks. The property began as a boarding house in the early 1900s and was upgraded to The Wilderness Hostel in 1924, gaining a strong reputation through the 1930s to 1950s. In the late 1930s, it hosted meetings that would later form what is now South African Tourism. Over the years since, the hotel has been managed by various hospitality groups and welcomed many notable guests, including Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth the 2nd) during the British royal family's 1947 visit to South Africa. ANEW Resort Wilderness is a valuable addition to ANEW's portfolio, providing a convenient midway stop for both local and international travellers journeying through South Africa from KwaZulu-Natal to Cape Town. In addition, the area's natural appeal, along with its proximity to the Garden Route National Park, lagoons and scenic landscape, makes it a fitting inclusion to the ANEW brand. The property features a range of amenities including a wellness spa, two swimming pools, a bowling green, tennis and squash courts, padel courts, as well as conference facilities catering for up to 500 delegates. It also includes sports and recreational options like a gym, mountain biking, bowls and putt-putt, among others. Clinton Armour, CEO of ANEW Hotels & Resorts, says the ANEW team is excited to welcome the property into the brand's growing South African presence. 'We're proud to welcome this renowned property to the ANEW Hotels & Resorts group. Long-standing guests can now enjoy this quality resort, along with our famed ANEW hospitality. The Wilderness Hotel holds a special place in the history of South African tourism, and we're excited to play a role in its next chapter.' ANEW Hotels & Resorts will operate the property under a lease agreement, with refurbishments planned ahead of October to upgrade all public areas and facilities in line with the group's standards. ANEW continues to thoughtfully expand within key nodes in South Africa, while maintaining strong relationships with owners and delivering consistent quality experiences for guests.
Zawya
09-06-2025
- Zawya
Bahrain's Sama Bay Project enters fast track
Bahrain-based Millet Engineering Bureau has announced that work is in full swing at the Sama Bay development located on the Galali waterfront with its second phase over 90% completed. According to the Bureau, the initial phase of Sama Bay covered a total area of 75,000 sq m in a prime coastal location. This phase introduces a vibrant mix of facilities including 14 retail units with flexible leasing options, 14 food trucks integrated within an open-air service zone, and two fully equipped public beaches designed to accommodate recreational and leisure activities. As the firm overseeing the design and implementation of Sama Bay project, Millet Engineering Bureau said it was delighted to see the project on track for full delivery in the near future. The second phase represents a pivotal advancement, introducing an exclusive array of seaside dining venues designed to deliver exceptional culinary experiences in an idyllic setting, said a statement from the Bureau. These additions are set to further elevate the project's profile as a signature destination and a driver of both tourism and economic growth, in alignment with Bahrain's Tourism Strategy 2022–2026 and the national development goals outlined in Economic Vision 2030. It also features the 'Al Nakheel Premium,' a state-of-the-art open-air fitness gym nestled in a natural environment, alongside multiple sports amenities such as a football field, padel courts, and a variety of outdoor seating areas distributed throughout designated relaxation and social zones, said the statement. Dr Salman Alghatam, the General Manager of Millet Engineering Bureau, stated that work on Sama Bay has progressed in alignment with the project's master schedule and in accordance with the highest engineering and quality standards. "In a remarkably short span, the project has emerged as a flagship destination for tourism, recreation, and lifestyle activities, drawing widespread interest from Muharraq residents, citizens, and international visitors alike," stated Dr Alghatam. "Its strategic coastal setting, combined with thoughtfully designed spaces, offers a seamless and enriching experience that meets a broad spectrum of interests while delivering outstanding quality and comfort," he added. Dr. Alghatam pointed out that since the launch of Phase I, the Sama Bay has attracted strong visitor engagement and served as a venue for major public events such as Bahrain Sports Day, affirming its role as a dynamic hub for wellness and community life. The second and final phase of the project significantly elevates the waterfront experience through the addition of six architecturally distinct buildings with direct sea views, each designed to accommodate two restaurants, he stated. Together, these 12 venues will offer a diverse array of dining experiences, thoughtfully curated to appeal to a wide range of tastes and culinary preferences, he added. Copyright 2024 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
22-05-2025
- Zawya
VinFuture 2025: 1,705 nominations worldwide – twelvefold increase in nominating partners over five seasons
HANOI, VIETNAM - Media OutReach Newswire - 22 May 2025 - The VinFuture Prize, a global science and technology award, has officially concluded the nomination period for its fifth season with a total of 1,705 nominations submitted from around the world. Notably, the number of official nominating partners has seen exceptional growth, reaching 14,772 – more than a twelvefold increase from the 1,200 recorded in the inaugural season – underscoring the Prize's reputation as a global hub for scientific and intellectual excellence. This season marks a significant leap in both the quantity and quality of nominations, as demonstrated by the wide engagement of the esteemed global scientific community. Among the nominating partners, the majority are from the Americas (31%), followed by Europe (28.6%), Asia (26.8%), Africa (7.1%), and Oceania (6.5%). Among the 14,772 nominators, nearly half (7,240 experts) are affiliated with leading universities and research institutes worldwide. Institutions represented include Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University (USA), the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford (UK), the University of Melbourne (Australia), the University of Toronto (Canada), and the National University of Singapore (Singapore), among others. Notably, 1,395 nominators (9.4%) are scientists ranked among the top 2% most highly cited researchers globally, based on the prestigious list compiled by experts at Stanford University. The nominations for the 2025 award season continue to span a comprehensive range of critical fields essential to human well-being and global sustainable development. These include medicine and healthcare (36.7%); energy, transportation, and construction (17.8%); environment and earth sciences (17.8%); and agriculture and food (11.3%). These core fields mirror global science and technology priorities, attracting considerable attention from the international community. VinFuture's nominating partners play a vital role in identifying and nominating groundbreaking scientific innovations for well-deserved recognition. These innovations demonstrably benefit humanity on a global scale while also amplifying the VinFuture Prize's stature within the international scientific community. Driven by the Prize's profound mission and global vision, all nominators participate on a voluntary basis. In 2024, following a nomination by Professor Monica Lam, a leading computer scientist at Stanford University (USA), Mr. Jensen Huang, CEO and co-founder of NVIDIA, was honored as one of the 2024 VinFuture Grand Prize Laureates for his industry-driven contributions to the advancement of deep learning. Dr. Thai-Ha Le, Managing Director of the VinFuture Foundation, remarked: " Our five-year commitment to the mission of 'Science for Humanity' has establisheds VinFuture as an international beacon of scientific excellence and hope. The exponential growth in nominating partners and the exceptional quality of this year's nominations not only underscore the growing trust of the international scientific community in the Prize, but also highlight the urgent need for science and technology solutions to build a world where humanity thrives in harmony with a sustainable environment." The 2025 VinFuture pre-screening round will take place from May 26 to August 31. Its goal is to enable the 10-member Pre-Screening Committee to meticulously evaluate the most impactful and award-worthy nominations for advancement to the final round. In pursuit of scientific integrity, objectivity, and transparency, the Committee will assess the nominations through a rigorous evaluation process based on the highest international standards and core criteria. These criteria include the degree of scientific or technological advancement, the impact on people's lives, and the project's scale and sustainability. Within just five years, the VinFuture Prize has rapidly established its international stature and prestige, as evidenced by the growing list of laureates honored with prestigious global accolades. Notable examples include Dr. Katalin Karikó and Prof. Drew Weissman (laureates of the 2021 VinFuture Grand Prize and 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine); Dr. Demis Hassabis and Dr. John Jumper (laureates of the 2022 VinFuture Special Prize and 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry); Prof. Geoffrey Hinton (laureate of the 2024 VinFuture Grand Prize and 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics); Prof. Yoshua Bengio, Prof. Geoffrey Hinton, Mr. Jensen Huang, Prof. Yann LeCun, and Prof. Fei-Fei Li (laureates of the 2024 VinFuture Grand Prize and 2025 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering); and Prof. Daniel Joshua Drucker, Prof. Joel Francis Habener, Prof. Jens Juul Holst, and Assoc. Prof. Svetlana Mojsov (laureates of the 2023 VinFuture Special Prize and 2025 Breakthrough Prize). Hashtag: #VinFuture The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. VinFuture The VinFuture Foundation, established on International Human Solidarity Day on December 20th, 2020, is a non-profit organization co-founded by billionaire Mr. Pham Nhat Vuong and his wife, Mrs. Pham Thu Huong. The Foundation's core activity is awarding the annual VinFuture Prize, which recognizes transformative scientific and technological innovations capable of making significant positive changes in the lives of millions of people worldwide. The VinFuture Prize consists of four prestigious awards presented each year. The most esteemed prize is the VinFuture Grand Prize, valued at US$3 million, making it one of the largest annual prizes globally. Additionally, there are three Special Prizes, each valued at US$500,000, specifically dedicated to honoring Women Innovators, Innovators from Developing Countries, and Innovators with Outstanding Achievements in Emerging Fields. VinFuture
