Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism announces new CEO
02 September 2010
In celebration of both the start of national Tourism Month and spring, Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism yesterday (Sept 1) announced that Mandlakazi Skefile would be their new chief executive officer, replacing outgoing CEO Fezekile Tshiwula.
Skefile was upbeat and extremely positive about the “exciting appointment”. While addressing tourism stakeholders and members of the media at a media conference, she laid out her plans for leading the tourism sector in the city.
“I am humbled and privileged to be given such a huge responsibility. I will make it a point that I will not disappoint any of you. I am going to be focusing on three main areas during my tenure, there are a lot of areas that we need to look into, but I would like to highlight these three.
“First of all I am looking forward to making sure we grow the meetings industry in Nelson Mandela Bay.
“Also I am looking at making sure we grow sports tourism. Currently we are marketing ourselves as the water sports capital of Africa – so I am going to make it my responsibility to out there to find event organisers and negotiate with the municipality to assist us in funding (sports) events in the Bay.
“Lastly, my focus will be primarily on growing domestic tourism. This is very important for us, as it is basically the bread and butter of this area. However, I will not loose sight of the international market remembering we have just come off a very successful 2010 FIFA World Cupä which has placed Nelson Mandela Bay on the map,” said Skefile.
She also promised to take along the important and willing tourism stakeholders in her threefold mission. Although Skefile is only 35-years old, she has already had an exciting career, and is no stranger to the chief executive position, after standing in for Tshiwula for two months over the World Cup period.
This and other “exceptional qualities” led the board of NMBT to be “convinced that there was only one candidate that could steer NMBT to greater heights”, said Hugh Bartis, NMBT board chairman. “(Over that period) She demonstrated in no uncertain terms that she was a professional of note.”
Tourism stakeholders heralded the appointment and promised Skefile their support, amongst them tourism “veteran” Peter Myles and PEMMBA representative Walter Passat.
Skefile also noted that as a destination-marketing agency, NMBT will focus its attention on saving Bayworld during Tourism Month. “The whole idea is not just about Bayworld, it’s about safeguarding those very important tourism products and attractions that Nelson Mandela Bay has to offer. So it will not only be Bayworld that we will be focusing on but will also be looking at other areas – like memorial sites in our townships, which will see them better kept so tourists can visit them,” she said.
She also encouraged people to be tourists in their own city over Tourism Month.
Skefile’s hobbies include spending time with her three children – aged 18, six and two – travel and cooking. Asked what she enjoys most about Nelson Mandela Bay she insisted it is its people and weather: “it’s never extreme, always moderate, just perfect for all who live and visit here”.
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