Pietersburg opens first curio shop

TOURISTS visiting Pietersburg can now buy mementos of their visit to the Northern Province in the city, thanks to the efforts of Peter Maulana who has opened the first curio shop there. The second runner-up in the competition for emerging tourism entrepreneurs in the province, Maulana offers an excellent array of curios at his recently opened Shamwari Curio and Craft Shop. Public Relations Manager of the Northern Province Tourism Board (NPTB), Sheila Masemola says the board's ongoing entrepreneurial development programme is aimed at encouraging such endeavours as they substantially enhance the tourism product of the province, and in this case provide tourists with a tangible reminder of their visit. Maulana sources his stock, which is sought after by both local and international tourists, from the rural regions of the province, but also from neighbouring Mpumalanga and Zimbabwe. He hopes eventually to be able to offer curios that are representative of the artistic talent of all the SADC countries. (Miguel de Sousa)