Mandeni Partnership for Inclusive Tourism

Tourism Innovation Lab Africa (TILA) is proud to be working with the Mandeni Community Tourism Organisation (CTO) through a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on strengthening local tourism and expanding opportunities for community-based enterprises. This partnership helps us align priorities, coordinate support, and ensure that our work responds to real needs on the ground in Mandeni—an area with strong tourism potential that is often underserved by skills development, market access, and digital support.

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Through this collaboration, we are delivering practical training and capacity-building support for tourism SMMEs and community initiatives, with a strong focus on unlocking opportunities for women and young people. We are building core digital confidence, improving how experiences are packaged and presented, and strengthening readiness for market access—so local entrepreneurs can grow sustainable tourism offerings and livelihoods.

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As the next step, we are launching a programme to onboard tourism initiatives from Mandeni onto the GCTN. This will support participants to complete the registration process, share their stories and offerings clearly, and increase their visibility within the tourism ecosystem—helping them connect with partners, build trust with visitors, and access new opportunities that support inclusive growth in the region.