Robben Island grievances discussed
THE Robben Island Museum (RIM) held its first stakeholder engagement meeting at its V&A Waterfront venue yesterday to discuss grievances that various tourism industry roleplayers had with the museum’s operation.
RIM chief executive Sibongiseni Mkhize said because Robben Island played such an important role in the heritage sector it was important for the museum to listen to other stakeholders’ issues.
“Robben Island is a difficult and challenging institute to manage and we are trying our best despite the odds,” Mkhize.
For the past five years the museum had focused on stabilising its financial management and corporate governance.
“We now want to focus on making Robben Island a place that is reliable and flexible for visitors. We want visitors to be able to stay as long as they want to on the island,” he said.
As a tourist destination Robben Island had the dual role of fulfilling heritage and social expectations which chief heritage officer Pascall Taruvinga said they would address through their fiveyear marketing and tourism strategy.
The growing issues, related to limited ferry rides and boat breakdowns that have caused frustration among visitors and tour guides, was one of the aspects Taruvinga said was being looked at.
“People who want an authentic Robben Island experience are shipped to the island on the boats used for former prisoners. But the authentic experience comes with discomfort as these boats are old,” he said.
The expense of maintaining the RIM’s R26 million flagship Sikhululekile and hiring
We want visitors to stay as long as they want to on the island
privately owned boats to ferry visitors to the island were also among the issues being seriously looked at in a bid to allow for a more reliable experience of the island.
Taruvinga also addressed the issue concerning unscrupulous tour guides who used the island as part of their package for tourists, but pocketed the full profit while using the island facility.
Alvin Kushner, Western Cape chairperson of the Southern Africa Tourism Association, said the industry was not loaded with greedy guides, and many times they absorbed the extra costs required for tour guides.
“Many guides have to not only guide but also translate for tourists, but still have to pay for their trips on the island. This is one of the matters which needs to be looked into as they are not there for their own enjoyment,” he said.
The lack of proper parking facilities for visitors, notification of price increases and refund issues when booking online were some of the other issues highlighted by various tour guides, which marketing manager Nomonde Ndlangisa said they would look into.
“There has been poor communication from Robben Island but before going to government please come to me first as my door is always open,” she said.