City names top 10 most loved icons

DECEMBER 5 – After close-on two months of campaigning and promoting the I love Nelson Mandela Bay competition, the people of the city have spoken. The I love Nelson Mandela Bay competition’s aim is to first discover what locals love most about the city – and they have come out strong with over 450 entrants naming their best loved secrets, their magical moments and the city’s most special places.

“Consumer insight like this is an incredible tool for us at Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism,” said Titus Chuene, NMBT marketing manager. “Not only are we able to discover what the top 10 most loved places in the city are, we have been provided with fresh, creative ideas for marketing the city.”

Coming in at the top of the top ten were Nelson Mandela Bay’s incredible beaches. “No surprise, after all we boast 80kms of some of the most pristine beach strips in the country,” quipped Chuene.

In second place was the latest addition to the city’s tourist offering, the incredible outdoor art gallery and historical site, the Donkin Reserve. Tying with the Donkin was the iconic Shark Rock pier. In third place was Addo Elephant National Park, home of the only Big Seven reserve in the world.

Between fourth and tenth place were the Port Elizabeth beachfront, the campanile, the NMB Stadium, St Georges Park, Hobie Beach, No 7 Castle Hill and The Boardwalk. Also topping the list were places like  Algoa Bay, Cape Recife, Coega IDZ, Game Parks, Groendal, Kings Beach, Red Location Museum, SA Flag on Donkin, Sardinia Bay, Swartkops River & Estuary, Vuyisile Mini Square, Boardwalk Walkways, Horse Memorial, Kragga Kamma Game Park, Nature Reserves, Opera House, Red Windmill, Richmond Hill Street Cafes.

“Given this list, it’s no real shock that in Nelson Mandela Bay we have 101 things to love about the city,” said Chuene. “Now the search continues for a single icon from these top 10.”           

The Icon Campaign now enters its second phase – the top 10 will be selected and locals and visitors alike can vote on which one they believe to be the single icon that defines and captures the essence of Nelson Mandela Bay – the city’s Eiffel Tower or Statue of Liberty. Watch the press for more details.