Durban Green Corridors has been privileged to host Willem Van Maanen, a Dutch PUM Tourism expert over the past few weeks. PUM is a nonprofit organisation established in 1978 by the Dutch employers' federation with financial support from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The programme aims to provide expert advice and support to organisations across the world. Since 1978 PUM have assisted over 40,000 organisations world-wide.

Willem Van Maanen has owned and managed numerous travel agencies and tour operators in the Netherlands over the years. Since retiring, Willem has traveled across four continents advising numerous tourism related organisations. His time in Durban was focused on assisting Durban Green Corridors with opportunities for enhancing what we offer visiting tourists and how to better package our products and our city.

"Durban is a well kept secret in the tourism industry and a worthwhile destination to visit. I have been to South Africa four times before, I was really surprised at the number of interesting things to see and do around Durban. It's a city with a lot of tourism potential; you need to tell the world!" said Van Maanen.

Durban Green Corridors is grateful to the PUM programme and Van Maanen for sharing his wealth of knowledge and many years industry experience with us.

PUM Programme

Below is a short overview of the PUM programme, which applies to companies in all industries:

• The programme is facilitated by retired experts from the Nederland's who share their industry expertise (technical expertise) for free. They are industry specialists and NOT general consultants.
• The industry experts volunteer approximately 100 hours to be spent in your business.
• The programme pays for their costs (international travel, insurance, etc) whilst you cover their local accommodation, meals and transport.
• There are no other costs other than that mentioned above.
• You apply (based on your need) and if the company meets the requirements they look for an expert (Registrant must be three years in operations and must have a minimum of 20 staff).
• PUM will send the resume of the person in advance for approval (on a no obligations basis).
• The value of the assistance is approximately R250 000 per visit and the only cost that the company will cover is food and meals, which amounts to maximum of R8000.
• No foreign owned companies qualify.
• A maximum turnover of R150 million per annum.

To find out more about the PUM programme opportunities in South Africa and in particular KwaZulu-Natal, Contact Akash:
T: 031 2010788
akash@sigmaintl.co.za
www.pum.nl