Bayworld revamp urgently needed
The MBDA is pushing to get buy-in for its plan to reinvent Bayworld. A major revamp – and rethink – of Bayworld is sorely needed if this city is to get maximum benefit from what could, if done correctly, once again become a prime tourism drawcard for the city. From a once hugely popular family attraction, and despite its unbeatable location, Bayworld and its oceanarium have over the years become a languishing dud.
Don’t blame this sorry state of affairs on the relocation of our dolphins to Hong Kong some years ago.
A combination of bureaucracy, poor funding and ineffective management all contributed to what is today a largely crippled and uninspiring facility.
Not that the answer lies in bringing captive dolphins back to the oceanarium either, as many travellers from around the globe now find such shows unacceptable.
Engaging and interactive displays and attractions are what are needed to draw a new generation of visitors, but at the same time careful financial and logistical management of the facility will be imperative or we will just be back to square one.
Bayworld must look to success stories such as the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, which attracts legions of tourists every year. uShaka Marine World in Durban has also become one of SA’s most loved marine parks, though it does still have its dolphins.
Besides bringing revenue to Port Elizabeth through tourist rands, Bayworld should continue to serve an important education function. It should also still have a key role to play when it comes to the rehabilitation of injured or stranded marine birds and other animals.
We can only hope that the MBDA is successful in its latest attempt to get provincial government and the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to finally reach an agreement on the way forward.
The Herald also reported in May that the provincial government was making headway after appointing a board of trustees to draw up a turnaround strategy for Bayworld, so we are hopeful that, finally, the wheels are in motion.
The place is in desperate need of a turnaround and if a workable plan is decided on, there is no reason why Bayworld cannot once more become world class.