Tourvest (Pty) Ltd

Since the 8th of September 2008, it’s all systems go for tourism giant, Tourvest, following the completion of a successful bid from a consortium of investors led by Guma Tourism, OMIGSA Private Equity, the IDC and members of the management team.

Tourvest shares were suspended from trade on the JSE on Monday 8th September 2008 and delisted the following day as a result of the successful implementation of the Tourvest acquisition. 
Tourvest, listed on the JSE almost eleven years ago, controls a range of tourism focused businesses including corporate travel agents, leisure travel agents, foreign exchange outlets, retail stores at tourist based sites, on-board duty-free operations, tour operators, hotels and restaurants. The group boasts several prominent brands, including American Express Foreign Exchange, American Express Travel services, Seekers Travel, Indaba Curios and Out of Africa.

Tourvest has been firmly entrenched in the creation of sustainable economic opportunities for the rural community since its inception. Tourvest crafts retail business sources more than 80% of its products from South African crafters in such a manner that guarantees the authenticity of its retail goods and localised support. It has, over the last eight years, Tourvest has contributed more than R 16m to craft development In Mpumalanga and Kwazulu Natal. It has further extended support in the form of craft development training, training in basic business practice, production skills, raw material sourcing, quality control, pricing and financial advice to approximately 1 500 rural South African informal crafters, who supply Tourvest with exquisite hand-made crafts, distributed through its stores in international airports, national parks, hotels, resorts and tourist shopping destinations across the African region.

Tourvest is ideally positioned to cater for all tourism activities for the much-anticipated FIFA 2010 World Cup. Tourvest’s new positioning as a BEE player, especially since the new Tourism Charter has been promulgated, sets the scene for a company with major growth opportunities in the future.

For more information on Tourvest, please visit the website:  www.tourvest.co.za