Committee Meeting 14 Jan 25

Agenda for IPTGSA Committee Meeting
Date: Tuesday, 14 January 2025
Time: 10:00 AM
Venue: Workshop17 Firehouse

1. Welcome and Opening

• Chairperson’s welcome
• Confirmation of quorum

2. New Agenda Items

• FGASA Professionalisation
  • Discussion on progress and next steps for collaboration
  • Impact on member accreditation and standards
• Umbrella Guides Pilot Project
  • Overview and updates on the project
  • Strategies for roll-out and member involvement
• Future Educationals
  • Planning for 2025 educational programs
  • Member suggestions and feedback
• Desperate Membership Drive
  • Urgent strategies to boost membership numbers
  • Innovative approaches to attract and retain members
• SAQA Registration
  • decision on going forward

3. General Discussions

• Open floor for committee member inputs
  • Should IPTGSA be part of SATSA
  • Feedback on what is going on with Gauteng Registration 

4. Closing

• Summary of resolutions and next steps
• Confirmation of the next meeting date
• WFTGA possible membership

Adjournment

Minutes of the IPTGSA Meeting – 14 January 2025

Minutes of the IPTGSA Meeting – 14 January 2025

Attendance:
Johan van Biljon (Chairman)
Sam Wenger
Piet Nel
Lesiba Fothane
JJ Pieterse (Online)
Mammy Raselabe
Anton Joubert
Fanie Terblanche
Henry Zeiler

Apologies:
Willie du Toit, Tefo Legobate, Willem Heckroodt

Quorum: Quorum was reached, with both EXCO and Board members represented.

1. Welcome and Opening

Johan van Biljon welcomed all attendees and extended a special acknowledgment to JJ Pieterse for joining online. He expressed optimism for the upcoming year and emphasized the importance of collaboration to achieve IPTGSA’s goals.

2. FGASA Professionalisation

Johan provided an update on an article published in Travel News Now, which revealed that FGASA is moving towards professionalisation. According to the article, FGASA plans to cease training by June 2026 and transition into a professional body. However, it appears that their efforts are limited to nature guides.

Discussion Points:

• SAQA regulations indicate that only one professional body can represent all guides, which conflicts with FGASA’s approach.
• The need for IPTGSA to engage with FGASA to clarify their stance and find a way forward without direct opposition.
• It was noted that Adventure Guides are also considering registering as a professional body.
• Action: Johan and Sam to arrange a meeting with FGASA as soon as possible to discuss alignment and avoid conflicts in professionalisation efforts.

3. Umbrella Guides Pilot Project

Johan revisited the Umbrella Guides proposal, confirming that the online application designed to showcase Umbrella Guides is fully operational.

Pilot Project Participation:

• Mammy Raselabe agreed to participate in the pilot project in Pretoria to collect data on the program's effectiveness.
• Lesiba Fothane volunteered to assist at the Union Buildings, a key tourist destination.
• An online meeting was held with the Tshwane government to secure approval for the pilot program. However, concerns were raised that the initiative might divert revenue from struggling museums.
• Johan reassured the government that the project aims to complement, rather than compete with, existing institutions.
• A proposal detailing the pilot project was emailed to the Tshwane government, and approval is pending before promotional materials are developed.
• Decision: The pilot project will proceed, with follow-ups to ensure progress.

4. Future Educationals

• Anton Joubert provided an update on the Lilliesleaf educational event, confirming that a provisional date of 29 February 2025 has been set. However, obtaining a firm commitment from Lilliesleaf remains challenging.
• Members were encouraged to suggest and organize educational events independently while keeping Johan informed.
• It was reiterated that educationals are a key part of IPTGSA’s strategy and must be prioritized throughout the year.

5. Urgent Membership Drive

• A significant membership drive is needed to increase participation and ensure sustainability.
• Existing memberships for 2024 will expire at the end of February 2025.
• Johan committed to sending out reminders to members regarding renewal fees.
• To accommodate financial constraints in the industry, members will be allowed to pay in installments.
• Additional strategies to boost membership include:
  • Organizing roadshows to raise awareness.
  • Hosting meetings in Cape Town, with JJ Pieterse tasked to follow up on arrangements.

6. SAQA Registration

• Johan reported that the SAQA application is 80% complete but was put on hold in 2024 pending findings from Urban Economics’ research on professionalisation.
• Once the meeting with FGASA is concluded, the application will be revisited to align with IPTGSA’s long-term objectives.

7. General Discussions

• SATSA Membership: IPTGSA will not pursue membership with SATSA due to differing interests and priorities.
• World Federation (WFTGA) Membership: Membership with WFTGA will be considered once sufficient membership fees are collected, as WFTGA’s fees are relatively high.
• GTA: There have been ongoing complaints regarding delays and inefficiencies in the Gauteng registration department. Johan committed to following up on these issues with the relevant authorities.

8. Next Meeting

• The provisional date for the next meeting is set for 12 February 2025.

Meeting Adjourned: 11:15 AM.