New tourism board

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Council approved unanimously to sublet a portion of the municipal building as office space to the Mossel Bay Business Chamber at R300 per month, VAT included, payable to Mossel Bay Tourism.

A condition of the sub-lease is that the business chamber will actively promote membership of its organisation to previously disadvantaged business people. Council heard that the sub-lease of municipal property will be in the interest of the public, the previously disadvantaged business people as well as local economic development which, inter alia will reportedly promote tourism.

Tourism board
Mossel Bay Tourism recently elected a new board, with councillor Mark Furness as chair, and Michelle Oosthuizen as deputy chair - also responsible for the portfolio of hotels and resorts. Michelle is said to have natural flair for marketing, and is said to bring hands-on relevance to the board with experience in international destination marketing.

Kim Naude will represent business. Having been a resident of the Garden Route for the past eight years, Kim is said to be the epitome of a network enthusiast. She has formed a valuable part of networking events in and around the area after successfully handling the sales and marketing of various local businesses and excels in the generation of leads, marketing and social media.

Tertius Coetzer will take on the portfolio of self-catering accommodation. He holds a bachelor's degree in Communication and has worked in marketing since 2008. He was employed by broadcaster OFM as an outside broadcasting (marketing) manager, bringing a new dimension to the Tourism board of directors.

He also serves on the Mossel Bay Accommodation Guild committee and is the marketing manager for Stars Restaurant and the Hotel Portao Dias Charlie Hendricks will be responsible for the community portfolio. It was proposed that Michel Rher should take on the responsibility for activities, however, he has not yet accepted the nomination.