MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Tourism, chaired by Beatrice Ngcobo (ANC) paid an oversight visit to Mossel Bay and shared with representatives of the Mossel Bay and Hessequa municipalities valuable suggestions on how tourism could support local economies.
After presentations on the tourism strategies of the respective towns, the parliamentarians had several questions on stakeholder engagement and on the transformation of the tourism industry.
The manner in which the respective municipalities in the Eden District Municipality (EDM) market tourism in a holistic manner to benefit the region as a whole came under the spotlight.
The DA spokesperson on tourism, James Vos (MP), said plans for a rebranding of the EDM were afoot and exciting announcement in this regard may be expected soon.
Eden District Municipality rebranded
"A new vision for the Garden Route will soon be launched by the Western Cape government which will include a rebranding of the EDM. It would be advisable that local municipalities in the EDM plug into the new, unified brand. Everyone in the region should work to one common goal."
Vos said a collaborative approach would lead to greater synergy in the tourism offering.
Members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Tourism paid an oversight visit to the Southern Cape this week. They met councillors, the municipal manager, the chief executive officer of Mossel Bay Tourism and senior municipal employees of Mossel Bay on Wednesday afternoon.
Town of the Year
The parliamentarians congratulated Mossel Bay for winning the coveted Kwêla Town of the Year award, yet asked to what extent the award would benefit all of the community. The chief executive officer of Mossel Bay Tourism, Marcia Holm explained the value of the television advertising campaign, part of the prize, would have on boosting both local and international tourism.
She also mentioned the planned Makietie that would be a free festival for Mossel Bay residents in celebration of winning the award.
Vos also mentioned the increasing need to employ the use of technology such as cellular phone applications as part of the marketing mix to entice tourism and to ensure that tourists remain in the region for longer.
Harbour
The municipal manager, Advocate Thys Giliomee, explained that the under-use of the harbour was a disadvantage to tourism development for both the town and the region. He mentioned the lack of progress with the proposed waterfront development and said this development had the potential to both unlock a huge potential for tourism development and boost the local economy.
"The proposed waterfront development may be the catalyst for the upliftment of the whole urban renewal of the old centre of town and would greatly contribute to the tourism offering as a whole," Adv Giliomee said.
A tourism operator in the Hessequa region asked that serious consideration be given to reopen a passenger service on the railway between Cape Town and George.
Ocean economy
Answering a concern raised by EFF MP Mr T Rawula about initiatives to embrace the ocean economy for the benefit of tourism, Adv Giliomee said talks were regularly held with the port authorities and stakeholders in the fishing industry. Access to the harbour remained a concern.
"Reducing the fishing quotas of local fishing companies negatively impacted the local economy, especially as the quotas were reallocated to companies outside the Southern Cape," Adv Giliomee said.
Transformation
Rawula said one of the spin-offs of tourism was its potential to drive transformation. He urged for greater inclusivity and asked whether the township tourism featured in the town's strategic planning for tourism development.
"European visitors are not impressed by graded accommodation as they are used to the best of the best. What they are looking for is to experience the food, the culture and the vibe of people living in the townships. How does the tourism budget address the upliftment of infrastructure in these areas? Is provision being made for internships?"
Town festivals
Deputy mayor, Councillor Dirk Kotzé, mentioned that Mossel Bay hosted eight town festivals in the course of a year, two of which took place in the JCC and Tarka areas.
"Quite aptly, the slogan for the Dias Festival is: "Where cultures meet".
The meeting was also attended by representatives of Hessequa Municipality. Vos urged them to use the names of the individual towns instead of that of the municipality when marketing their area to tourists.
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