AGM 2024 Report

Agenda 

• 10:00 Start 
• Welcome 
• Attendance ( will be noted) 
• Apologies
• Treasurers Report
• Chairmans Report 
• Voting Results
• Open debate
•  11:00 Closing  

Attendance

Workshop 17 
L Fothane, JvBiljon,D deBruyn,F Terblanche,W duToit, M Raselabe,H,Galt,T Smith,W Ellenberger

Online
G Vermaak, B Bacela,P Bogdan, J Clarcke, K Weeks, Celeste Scheepers, A Joubert, P Moni,

Apologies received 
Sam Wenger, Henry Zeiler, Willem Heckroodt Piet Nel

Treasurer's Report

Reporting Period: Year ending February 2023

The IPTGSA audit report, prepared by Veritas Accountants CC, has been finalized and submitted to the relevant authorities. The audit report is available for scrutiny by registered members on the website or upon request from the office.

Financial Overview:

• Membership Revenue: R44,420
• Administrative Expenses: R9,698
• Running Expenses: R14,182
• Surplus: R20,540 carried over into the next year

As 2023 was still a recovery year, membership fell sharply. Expenses are kept to a minimum to maintain a positive cash flow.

The position of Treasurer is still open. Any member interested in helping is urged to contact the committee.

Chairman's Report

The past calendar year has been exceptionally challenging. Membership dropped by 50%, with many tourist guides opting for other professions, retirement, or consistently paying jobs, as the tourism industry in South Africa continues to recover. Despite these challenges, the Institute of Professional Tourist Guides of Southern Africa (IPTGSA) has persistently moved forward, building relationships, working on projects, and promoting registered professional tourist guides.

July to November is traditionally the busy season, and members are often occupied, resulting in lower participation in committee activities. However, the marketing efforts to promote IPTGSA were successful. The committee exhibited at the Indaba travel show, which provided excellent networking opportunities. Favorable connections were made and will be leveraged in the future.

In February 2024, a committee of five members embarked on a roadshow from Durban to Cape Town along the N2 Highway. Although it was slightly disappointing not to meet more tourist guides along the route, successful meetings were held in Lusikisiki, Jeffreys Bay, Makhanda, and Gqeberha. In Cape Town, a high-level meeting with James Vos of the Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth in the City of Cape Town highlighted the importance of using and marketing registered tourist guides and introduced the project "Umbrella Guides." The IPTGSA committee extends its gratitude to JJ Pieterse and Sam Wenger for sponsoring sections of this ambitious two-day roadshow.

As IPTGSA equates experience with professionalism, our educational programs have been very active this year. Notable educationals included:

• Victoria Yards Educational
• Voortrekker Monument Educational (29 March 2024)
• Voortrekker Guide Training (5 April 2024)
• Church Square Educational
• Federal Airlines Educational (3 April 2024)
• Smuts House Educational
• Melrose House Educational
• Dynamite Educational

The committee continuously attends and participates in stakeholder forums organised by the Department of Tourism. We are closely monitoring the training crisis in the tourist guiding sector to keep our members informed. Although information from the QCTO has been sparse, it remains a significant focus for us.

A concerning trend has emerged: people confirm their attendance at organised functions but then fail to show up without any apology. In today's world, communication is effortless. Hosts prepare based on the number of attendees, and no-shows cause significant disappointment. In the tourist guiding sector, punctuality and reliability are paramount.

The IPTGSA committee remains committed to supporting and advocating for our members, ensuring our industry's continued growth and professionalism.

Voting

An online voting system is used where by nominations are requested 60 days in advance . All nominated members are placed on the ballot. Two days before the AGM date, the online ballot is opened and members are introduced to the anonymous online vote Voting access stays open for online voting until 17:00 the day prior to the AGM.

• Fully paid up Members 20 
• Votes cast  11
• Vote Percentage 55%

100% vote for retaining Board members 

• Lesiba Fothane (Chairman)
  Willie du Toit
  Henry Zeiler
  Willem Heckroodt

All EXCO members voted for would be included in the committee 

Open debate points