Bay has so much to offer let’s not ruin our tourism reputation

The recent attack on a group of tourists in the Gqeberha city centre was an attack on us all.

Tourism is vital to both our economy and our reputation.

We pride ourselves on being “The Friendly City”, and yet in broad daylight these cruise ship passengers, along with their local guide, were held up and robbed at gunpoint without a police officer or security official in sight.

Over recent months we have witnessed an increase in the number of visitors to our Bay.

Along with a steady stream of foreign cruise ships, the rise in domestic tourism has shown a positive trend.

Visitor numbers are up this year as we enjoyed a peaceful and prosperous holiday season.

The recent Splash Festival was well attended and the feel-good factor was back in our Bay.

Tourism benefits not only those who work directly in the industry, but it has a positive knock-on for us all.

The money that tourism brings to our Bay is vital if we are going to continue the regeneration that has been witnessed over the past year or so.

Let’s not forget, we have everything going for us here in terms of tourism.

Since moving here from Cape Town, I have been impressed by the quality of the hotels and restaurants, by the conference facilities and the value that our Bay offers visitors.

We have some of the best beaches in the world, not to mention the amazing wildlife right on our doorstep.

Our rich culture, heritage and history should be celebrated and shared with tourists.

Having spoken to guests on my recent cruise line speaking tour, the welcome they received in the Bay was unlike anywhere else.

These people are as keen to visit our townships and local communities as they are to explore our malls and museums.

A recent event in Zwide highlighted the passion our citizens have to share their homes and lives with visitors.

Community and tourism worker Mike Pantsi hosted a special evening highlighting local musicians and cultural legends, and I couldn’t help but think how special this would have been to have tourists join in this experience.

Our city doesn’t have to be perfect to be a tourist destination.

With the right guidance, visitors can appreciate Nelson Mandela Bay for what it has to offer now.

Yes, we have our challenges, but remember that every city around the world has its own problems.

Sometimes, as South Africans, we think we have a monopoly on bad news. That’s just not true. Tourists are also not as naive as we tend to think, especially those arriving by cruise ship.

They are well travelled and educated, and are looking for that unique experience we can offer them here.

The couple I spoke to chose to experience our city for themselves, not to go on an organised tour, but to walk the streets and chat to the locals.

Crime destroys everything though.

And an incident like the attack on those visitors outside the Athenaeum can cause irreparable damage to our already fragile reputation.

The usual response has seen various parties blaming each another.

Now is not the time to attribute blame, it is a time for action.

Tourism stakeholders, both municipal and private, have worked hard to encourage tourists to visit here, and to reinstate Nelson Mandela Bay as an attractive and, more important, safe destination.

An attack of this nature on visitors to our home city is shameful, and each and every one of us should play our part in ensuring it does not happen again.