Time to build a picture of future success in the tourism industry

Time to build a picture of future success in the tourism industry

23 April 2021

While tourism businesses are still reeling from the devastating impact of the coronavirus, fertile ground exists to build a picture of future success by a unified force for change in the tourism industry.

This sentiment was broadly expressed and agreed as the best possible means to improve product offerings, develop tourism infrastructure and to place Nelson Mandela Bay on the map as a preferred tourism destination.

Whilst international tourism is still affected by travel bans due to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, the breather should be used as an opportunity to reconstruct the tourism industry in Nelson Mandela Bay.

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture Siyasanga Sijadu, said yesterday’s engagement session, held at the Port Elizabeth City Hall, is a first step towards establishing a tourism cluster.

This body will consists of representatives from the tourism industry, municipal service delivery departments and provincial government and mandated to champion pertinent issues affecting the tourism industry.

"We noticed that the tourism industry do not have their own session to give input regarding the municipal Integrated Development Plan and budget processes of the municipality.

"They are best placed to tell us what their requirements and needs are as we cannot develop for them, without them,” Sijadu said.

Shaun van Eck, Chairman of Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism, said it is the first time in his tourism career, spanning over three decades, that a municipal political head invites tourism industry role-players to an engagement session.

Critical issues raised, include:

1. The establishment of a Convention Bureau to compete with other cities to host events,
2. The need for a fully functional conference facility,
3. Ensure participation in the digital economy by providing infrastructure for cheap and fast internet connectivity,
4. Enable digital market access for township tourism operators,
5. The opportunity to present to the Mayoral Committee,
6. Involvement of the youth in the tourism industry,
7. Consideration of a higher water quota for mix-use guesthouses, where small business owners accommodate guests on the same premises where they live, and;
8. A renewed focus is required by municipal service delivery departments to clean up the city and to fix potholes and road infrastructure.

Anele Qaba, Executive Director, said an item will be submitted for discussion at the portfolio committee for Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture to discuss the establishment of a convention bureau.

He said that the municipality has land available for a conference facility but needs funding and partnerships to build it.