So much to offer ‒ and hardly anyone knows!

The Eastern Cape has everything a tourist could want: no malaria, no bilharzia, beautiful beaches and aweinspiring game reserves – but the province is last but one when it comes to tourist spending.

Makana Tourism Director Sue Waugh presented the organisation’s AGM report at last week’s Tourism and Cultural Industries portfolio committee meeting in the Makana Council chambers.

While other provinces received extensive national marketing, Waugh said, the Eastern Cape was left out of the loop.

“The Province has no mon- ey for marketing,” Waugh said, “but it does try.”

While bed nights in the province in the year 2015-2016 were up to 802 147 from 761 000, this wasn’t reflected in Grahamstown, where accommodation figures were down from 2015.

Private game reserves in the area bucked the trend, with an increase in bookings during and after the national Arts Festival.

According to the report, they were 85%-100% full until the end of the year.

The fees protests at the Rhodes University campus had generated negative publicity, putting off some potential visitors to Grahamstown, Waugh said. That, along with infrastructure problems and perceived security risks had turned away some of the potential “MICE” (meetings, incentives, conferences and events/exhibitions) market.

More than 549 events nevertheless took place in Grahamstown in the period, excluding sporting events and regular weekly events.

By far the biggest attendance was at the National Arts Festival, with ticket sales at 227 524, followed by Scifest Africa with 56 000 visitors; Rhodes University orientation (7 300 students); and the National Schools Festival (more than 6 000 Grade 11 and 12 pupils).

Creative City

A report on the Creative City project stated that it was modelled on the Proudly South African campaign, with the objective to use creativity as a catalyst for projects from which NGOs, businesses and community based initiatives could benefit.

The project’s business plan, drawn up in 2013, was attached that includes initiatives such as opening a “made in Makana” craft shop; establishing a monthly night market; developing Fiddlers Green as an arts hub and acquiring craft and retail infrastructure.

Councillor Eric Louw requested that one of the Creative City initiatives, the Masicule mass choral event, specifically seek to include choirs from rural areas including Alicedale and Riebeeck East.

Town regeneration

A revised town regeneration business plan was submitted that refers to the Creative City initiative, that identifies a creative economy as requiring cultural activities, strong social and cultural infrastructure, high concentrations of creative employment and that it is attractive to inward investment because of well established cultural facilities.

To this end, urban quality, infrastructure, employment creation and retention and Makana’s strategic position are addressed in the regeneration plan. Urban character, built form, open space systems, access and movement and pedestrianisation are critical enablers to develop Grahamstown as an attractive place to investors, tourists and locals, the plan states.

Crafters for the National Arts Festival

Makana Municipality plans to allocate four spaces for local crafters on its stand for the National Arts Festival. This information was to be advertised and crafters should go to the LED office if they wished to be considered for the stand. This was part of the support programme for local crafters.