Sisters are doin' it for themselves... and for others...

Tempting as it may be to plough through the tidal wave of emails, WhatsApp and social media notifications that claw at me for attention, the most meaningful thing I will do today is to express my sincerest gratitude to the women who are selflessly making their actions speak louder than words.

As I write this, I know that there are many whose names I will have been remiss in not including. Perhaps that's heartening in itself since there are so many women who have risen up behind the scenes over the past few months when many will have been content to have melted into their PJs, binge-watched Netflix and shut out the world.

These women have shown up in ways that I can never describe. They have done all the hard work in the background, and sometimes in the foreground, giving generously of their time, their talents and their voices to bring hope when we've felt there's no reason to hope.

They may not sit on steering committees, walk in the so-called corridors of power or conduct Skype interviews with the SABC, but their tenacity, selfless contribution and unwavering belief in helping the communities they serve is the stuff of legends and deserves to be recognised publicly.

So the most meaningful thing I will do today is cut through the noise of email, WhatsApp notifications and phone calls - they can all wait - and thank them from the very bottom of my heart for giving without any expectation of receiving, at a time when the world wouldn't blame you for being just that little bit selfish.

By name:

Cecelia Rosa, Pat MacNair, Hannelie du Toit, Nivashnee Naidoo, Elizabeth de Stadler, Marilda Wiegand, Bena Long, Monika Iuel, Margie Whitehouse, Gillian Saunders, Judy Nwokedi, Busi Mavuso, Cindy Sheedy-Walker, Dionne Collett, Amy Knight-Dawson, Davina Malan, Palesa Madumo, Denise Slabbert, Gisela Piercey, Shereen Hunter, Lesley Simpson, Jackie Adami, Robyn Christie, Jane Davidson, Sandra Sowray, Dani Cohen, Dorine Reinstein, Chelsey Hale, Jenna Berndt, Claire Lathe, Charmaine van Niekerk, Linsey Schluter, Emily Djock, Jola Cronje, Mistura Olowookere, Jeanette Phillips, Adele Mackenzie, Boitumelo Masihleho, Kim Whitaker, Tes Proos, Eleanor Muller, Jeanneret Momberg, Julia Louw, Theresa Emerick, Mandisa Magwaxaza, Judy Lain, Dawn Robertson, Zuks Ramasia, Toni Shina, Lizani Smith, Illana Clayton, Wendy Alberts... and the list goes on, but it also grows.

Without these women, my wheels would not turn, nor would the wheels of many others. And there are many more whose names should be written here.

Expressing my gratitude today - a random day which has no special symbolism and a good few weeks before Women's Day (when you're actually supposed to wax lyrical about the contribution of women) - is not meant to marginalise men. It's not about you, or me, or one person, or one group.

And so I am grateful to the women, and men, who are standing behind our cause of "South Africa is Travel Ready" and beating the #IAmTourism drum. Help us to get 3,000 images by Women's Day ([email protected]) and spread the word that South Africa is Travel Ready.

Because it takes a village, and I am lucky to be surrounded by a group of powerful women (and men) who're willing to make that investment.

#IAmTourism, are you?