MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Mossel Bay Tourism's board of directors has elected Jeanetta Marais as its chairperson for the second year in a row.
"Minimal changes to the board's structure mean continuity and ensure the smooth, uninterrupted running of the organisation for both the members and the staff," said Mossel Bay Tou-rism's COO, Marcia Holm.
She said that the company will focus over the next six months on bringing visitors to Mossel Bay during the traditionally quiet part of the year.
"Easter's coming up soon, and that's always a busy time for Mossel Bay - but we need to bring more business into town between the beginning of May and the end of August."
Ms Holm said that the company is preparing for the launch of its 'Mossel Bay Mild Season' campaign, which will this year aim to "thank our visitors for their loyal support by giving them added value when they book more than two night's accommodation with participating members.
"We're currently negotiating these Mild Season deals, and we're planning to have the first details up on our website by the end of next week - just in time for the Beeld Holiday Show at Gallagher Convention Centre in Gauteng, where we'll introduce the campaign."
"After that, we'll be taking the promotion to the 2015 Cape Getaway Show, which takes place at Lourensford Wine Estate in Somerset West from the 13th to 15th of March," said Ms Holm.
Ms Holm said that Mossel Bay's own annual showcase of travel and tourism - Travel Mossel Bay - will run from Friday, 29 to Sunday, 31 May.
"The emphasis this year is going to be on tour operators and travel agents from Cape Town, and we're hoping to bring at least 40 hosted buyers to see and experience the town, and to learn about its accommodation, attraction and activities." She said that the festival was to have taken place in October last year - a year after the inaugural event - but that it had been postponed at the request of the operators and agents, who said that they wouldn't be able to visit at that time of year.
"We agree that this new date is much better: Travel Mossel Bay will take place after all the major shows and exhibitions are done for the year, and just in time to remind the tourism chain that Mossel Bay is the ideal mid-year holiday and conference destination."
Ms Holm said that the board of Mossel Bay Tourism is made up of a selection of elected members, and members nominated by the municipality, which provides the bulk of the company's funding via a grant-in-aid. (Mossel Bay Tourism is a Section 21, not-for-profit organisation.) Each of the elected members represents a sector of the tourism economy - Ms Marais of Your Travel Guide was elected by the business sector; Fred Orban of the Oystercatcher Trail and the Point of Human Origins Experience by the attractions and activities; the ATKV-Hartenbos' Werner Kock by hotels and resorts; and Attie Roos of Dias Beach Haven by the self-catering sector. According to Ms Holm, the post of director for guest houses and B&Bs is currently vacant, but René Malan has indicated her willingness to serve on the board, and will attend her first meeting shortly. (Elected members serve in a voluntary capacity.)
The nominated members of the board are municipal manager, Dr Michele Gratz; Councillors Emil Scheepers and Petru Terblanche; community directors Mzwandile Pylot Majola and Edgar Phillips; and the municipality's director of corporate services, Edward Jantjies.
"We're looking forward to an exciting and productive year with the board, and we thank them for their time and the effort they put into helping Mossel Bay Tourism deliver on its mandate," said Ms Holm.
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