NMBT launches love campaign for exciting April season

LOVE is at the heart of Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism’s (NMBT) campaign for the April holidays, with a distinct feeling in the city that it’s a place with “lots to love and lots to do”.

“There is no better person to ask why one should love Nelson Mandela Bay than a local,” said Titus Chuene, NMBT marketing manager. “When tourists come to Nelson Mandela Bay it is often to visit family and friends, so it’s these locals who will be able to best market the city – because they live here and they love certain things about it.”

 “Though Nelson Mandela Bay is a small city it has a big heart. It carries the name of South Africa’s best-loved hero, Madiba, with pride and love, so, it’s not surprising the area has been named after the inspiring leader,” said Titus Chuene, NMBT marketing manager. 

“Madiba epitomises the philosophy of Ubuntu and friendliness this city has long been known for, and what we wanting to do this April season is to harness the love locals have for the city with a campaign that speaks about the reasons we love it here.”

It is also a charming coincidence that both designated names of this city, Port Elizabeth and Nelson Mandela Bay, are synonymous with love.

Port Elizabeth was named in memory of Elizabeth Donkin, wife of the city’s founder Sir Rufane Donkin, after her untimely death in India before he came to South Africa. The name Nelson Mandela is indicative of the deep love the former president had for his country that he was willing to sit in prison for 27-years in pursuit of freedom.

As a result of this “love story”, NMBT is continuing with the campaign they launched during last year’s September Tourism Month: 101 Reasons to Love Nelson Mandela Bay. The organisation has identified five top reasons to come to the city this April: sunny days, awesome beaches, the Big Seven, great sporting events and a convenient city pass ideal for both locals and tourists.

Nelson Mandela Bay has endless kilometres of golden, sandy beaches lapped by the warm Indian Ocean and unbeatable weather, especially over the March and April period. It is the only city in the world that boasts the Big Seven – lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, leopard, Great White Shark and Southern Right Whale – right on its doorstep at the Addo Elephant National Park.

It has the unique, affordable and action-packed Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism Pass, which gives visitors free entry into city attractions or discounted rates. The pass costs R250 and can be bought at Tourism Information Offices around the city.

In addition, the city is an affordable destination, especially now that there will be additional travel costs with the recent rise in petrol and diesel, added Chuene.

The 101 Reasons to Love Nelson Mandela Bay campaign also boasts list of ten bite-size themes with ten incentives for reasons to love the city under each theme, which will be made available on their website for tourism product owners and locals.

The April season will also the see the sixth Ironman South Africa taking place on April 11, an extended holiday season with the school break and many public holidays, as well as the Splash Festival, the second largest beach and water sports festival in the southern hemisphere.

Author: Amy Shelver