Ballito tourism set for big things
A BRIGHT new tourist attraction in the heart of Ballito is destined to become the gateway to cultural, historical, natural and adventure experiences in the region.
Housed in two transformed shipping containers and brightly painted in yellow and purple, the WowZulu Marketplace, which has just been officially launched, is next to the Sangweni Tourist Information Centre in the iLembe region. And as well as providing tourists with the chance to buy upmarket, locally made craft products, hear stories of the area and sample gourmet interpretations of traditional dishes, visitors will also be able to go on local tours to new commun- ity-based experiences.
“The WowZulu Marketplace is a catalyst to plug previously excluded rural tourism entrepreneurs and craft producers into the iLembe District’s tourist economy, in an effort to improve their lives and those of their communities,” said Briony Smith of Afritca!!Ignite, a non-profit rural development agency that focuses on providing support for networks of marginalised rural women, youth and emerging entrepreneurs.
The marketplace project is one of the organisation’s initiatives under WowZulu Responsible Tourism, which aims to create sustainable jobs and business opportunities for craft producers and previously excluded community tourism enterprises.
There are several partners, such as Enterprise iLembe, the South African Jobs Fund and the KZN Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs.
It is envisaged that by expanding the scope of iLembe’s tourism offerings, more tourists will be attracted to the area.
The Ballito area experiences will be available to tourists from July 1 and will include: a walk in the footsteps of Chief Albert Luthuli, Africa’s first Nobel Peace Prize winner; a “bees and birds” experience in Amitikulu in the far north of the region that includes a visit to a beekeeper and canoeing with experienced bird guides; and a snorkel tour.