Sedge info office opens its doors

While the service level agreement (SLA) between Knysna Municipality and provincial tourism entity Wesgro is possibly set to be agreed on by 1 November, the Sedgefield office – now run by a group of locals – continues its work servicing both visitors and locals of the area, and continue to market its many attractions.

Thursday 13 September marked the official opening of the Sedgefield Tourism Information, Arts & Crafts office. Excited locals gathered that evening to hear what former Knysna Tourism board member and Sedgefield local Jurgens van der Walt had to say.

According to Van der Walt, Sedgefield relies heavily on the tourism sector, as Knysna does, and when the previous SLA came to a close and the decision was made to shut down the Sedgefield office, he could not let it happen.

In a previous interview with Knysna-Plett Herald, Van der Walt said his decision to take over the tourism premises – including the management and costs thereof, as well as keeping on the existing staff – came as he and many other Slow Town residents felt that Sedgefield never gets the attention it deserves.

“Despite the fact that Sedgefield forms very much part of Greater Knysna, and has so much to offer incoming tourists, the local government decided that they would only keep the Knysna tourism information office doors open, and shut the Sedgefield’s office for good,” he said on the night, as reported by PR guru Fran Kirsten.

Not having a local office where visitors can pop in to get first-hand information, he said, would put the town at a disadvantage. “To be honest, it broke my heart that the young lady (Nicole Moore) manning the desk at the old tourism office was going to lose her first ever job, through no fault of her own. That and the fact that we had just started being recognised as a tourist destination motivated a few of us to put our heads together and see how we could ensure that the office remains open,” he said.

Now Moore can share her knowledge of the area and local artists can use the office as a platform to display their wares, according to Van der Walt.

The “new” office is exactly where the old Sedgefield Tourism office was, at 30 Main Road, Sedgefield. Trading hours are Monday to Friday 09:00 to 18:00 and Saturday, 09:00 to 14:00. More info: 044 343 2007 / office@ sedgefieldtourism.info. –

Photo: Chaise Reeler Local resident and tourism enthusiast,, Jurgens van der Walt, showing his excitement at finally removing the “opening soon” sign from the new Sedgefield Tourism Information Arts & Crafts office window during its officially opening on Thursday, 13 September.