City tourism gets new champion
The rich cultural heritage, aquatic scenery and busy port location were also named as prized assets.
A NEW appointment at the City of uMhlathuze blew a breath of fresh air into proceedings at the uMhlathuze Community Tourism Organisation AGM earlier this month.
Head of Section for Economic Development Facilitation, Simphiwe Morajane, showed he had his finger firmly on the local tourism pulse with a dynamic presentation on the current status and future opportunities.
Taking on the challenge of job creation through tourism, Morajane – who has vast hands-on leisure industry experience – said the City Tourism Development Strategy had identified a number of challenges:
• No clear identity. ‘Although we are the most diverse area of the country, we need a single identity and unique selling point. This talks to our brand marketing.’
• No integrated public transport system.
• Poorly managed nature reserves, plus Ezemvelo’s negative public image.
• The stigma of being ‘Durban’s Stepson’. ‘We need some priority commitment from the province, rather than being an afterthought.’
• Pollution. ‘International tourists are extremely health conscious.’
• Poor event infrastructure. ‘If we are to bid to host major events, we need an inventory of the existing private and public facilities, and their condition.’
• The airport island. ‘We have the most expensive flights in the country, which means capital is leaking out of the local system.’
Positives
However, Morajane also enumerated the City’s many strengths, which included its accessibility and route linkages to Mozambique, Sodwana, St Lucia and so on.
The rich cultural heritage, aquatic scenery and busy port location were also named as prized assets.
Looking ahead, Morajane listed a number of future operating expenditure projects:
• Strategy for bidding and hosting of major events
• Tourism product audit review
• Tourism skills development
• Local tourism organisations (CTOs)
• Tourism safety plan
• Tourism marketing strategy
• Heritage tourism development plan
• Tourism trade shows
• Tourism grading.
New beach
The ocean attraction received the major focus.
Top on this list are major plans for beach development at Port Durnford.
‘Tied in with the King Cetshwayo Monument plans, this could turn Port Durnford into a substantial town.’
Increased development at the waterfront and rehabilitation at Alkantstrand are also on the cards.
Attendees also received valuable input from Nompumelelo Dlamini – Tourism Registration Officer at the Department of Economic Development & Tourism, and Abie Wentzel – Project Manager: Tourism Development at Tourism KZN.
‘We are excited to have received commitment and support from the municipality today,’ said incoming uCTO Chairman Mandla Magagula.
‘We feel incentivised to drive even harder in the coming year.’
