NELSON MANDELA BAY TOURISM COLLABORATES WITH NELSON MANDELA BAY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CENTRE

A Strategic Collaboration between Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism (NMBT) and Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) Science and Technology centre in Uitenhage commenced as of September 2013. NMBT has relocated its Uitenhage Visitor Information Centre (VIC) to the Nelson Mandela Bay Science & Technology Centre situated at the Corner of Upper Drostdy and Durban Road, Uitenhage.

This coordinated and collaborative approach will maximise shared resources while providing a quality tourist and educational experience.  

NMBT Information Manager, Mrs Cheryl Witte advised, “This objective is further accomplished by the VIC being centrally located and strategically placed with the NMB Science and Technology centre, making it more accessible to visitors, students and members of the public”.

Key duties include the dissemination of tourist information, the efficient handling of tourism related enquiries and the option of accommodation bookings to visitors as well as supporting bookings and other reception duties at the Science & Technology Centre. NMBT will also assist in proactively phoning schools and marketing the centre as well as creating awareness about the Nelson Mandela Bay School Pass. The Nelson Mandela Bay School pass is a pass which is available to school learners and is packaged in such a way to encourage them to visit attractions in NMB at greatly subsidized costs.  More information regarding the school pass can be found on the website http://www.nmbt.co.za/school_groups.html

This mutually beneficial agreement should be an example of how other stakeholders, private sector and government institutions can collaborate in order to ensure their own and other’s future in a competitive market place. The NMBT Office will continue to provide an improved de-centralized information office network system in order to service a broader area of Nelson Mandela Bay (including Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Despatch) through the Information Services Division and the Science and Technology Centre was ideal not only due to its location but its individual offerings as well as its strong tourism and heritage characteristics.  The Nelson Mandela Bay Science & Technology Centre is established in a beautifully renovated heritage building in the heart of Uitenhage.  The centre boasts a 3600sqm interactive exhibition area which profiles interesting motion activated exhibits from the Automotive, Electrical, Construction, Momentum and Sound sector as well as a Game Zone.  A brand new state of the art 150 seater fully equipped auditorium is also available in the Nelson Mandela Bay Science & Technology Centre.

Mr Richard Gibson, CFO of the Nelson Mandela Bay Science and Technology Centre is excited about the collaboration and said, “We envisage further benefits such as increasing the volume of visitors, optimising the mutual benefits for community and Industry through tourism and to fulfill the potential of locals and have a better informed industry.” The Science Centre is open Monday to Friday 08h00 until 16h30 and Saturdays between 09h00 until 13h00. For more information about the Nelson Mandela Pass which allows free and discounted entry into various attractions and activities in NMB, please visit www.nmbt.co.za.