Special meeting to thrash out Plett’s tourism future

PLETTENBERG BAY - A special meeting to resolve the issue of Plettenberg Bay's two separate tourism bodies is to be held today, Thursday 20 October, in the Bitou council chambers, and all councillors have been invited to attend.

The meeting, called in terms of Section 80* of the municipal oversight functions, is expected to consider a new tourism structure for Plett and also to avert a show-down between the Plett Tourism Association and the newly formed Plettenberg Bay Tourism Board at the council meeting at the end of October

The Section 80 meeting was called by the Strategic Services portfolio to discuss the way forward and consider a proposal to form an umbrella body for Plettenberg Bay's tourism structure that would be overseen by the municipality.

Meanwhile a group of tour operators and travel professionals visited Plettenberg Bay at the weekend as part of a marketing initiative for tourism businesses in the town.

The marketing event, held at Sky Villa and organised by the Plettenberg Bay Tourism Board, saw representatives of a number of tourism companies, including travel and booking agents, exposed to offerings from Plett tourism entities.

Paul Duverge of the Board said the event was a way to give more tourism businesses in Plett a voice. "The fact that businesses came out on a Sunday night is testimony to the need for more such initiatives. Today's event is testament to the fact that things are changing for the better, and that our goal and ambition to put as many Bitou tourism businesses on the map [as possible] is gaining positive momentum,” said Duverge

The evening, arranged on a quick-fire round-table format, saw participation by local tourism entities like The Grand Hotel, Archery Adventures, Ocean Sailing Charters, Knysna Elephant Park, kasiLyfestyle Tshisanyama and De la Fontaine Naturals.

* A Section 80 committee is a committee of councillors, chaired by a member of the mayoral committee, to assist the mayor in his oversight role over administration.

A highlight of the boat trip was spotting the rare Antarctic resident, the Snowy Sheathbill, which has been attracting birding enthusiasts from near and far to Plettenberg Bay.

Five of eight tourism professionals from major centres in South Africa soaked up some of the iconic sites Plettenberg Bay has to offer visitors. From left: Nazarana Rasool (Compassline, Durban), Ropa Luthi (Sure Outeniqua Travel), Lee-Ann Wesson (tour organiser), Radiyah Smit (Travel with Flair, Cape Town) and Gill Dickie (Bluu Car Rental Port Elizabeth).