Tourism Role Players come together to build the Eastern Cape

Nelson Mandela Bay played host to the Tourism Business Summit on 15 and 16 April 2010. The event was organized by Imbizo Events. The Summit consisted of a Gala dinner on the 15^th and the Business Summit on the 16^th, where various role plays in the industry came together with the primary objective of growing and developing tourism in the Bay while solving various problems and challenges at hand. The guest speaker at the Gala Dinner was Ambassador Thandiwe January-McLean.

The Summit was officially opened by the honourable Executive Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay, Cllr Zanoxolo Wayile, followed by Ms Weziwe Busakwe, Senior Manager of the Tourism Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs (Eastern Cape), with the key note address. Both speakers commented on the opportunity created by the Tourism Business Summit to discuss challenges and opportunities, in the sector, collectively.

Mzukisi Skade, Finance Manager of the Nelson Mandela Bay 2010 Directorate presented Nelson Mandela Bay’s readiness as a Host City for the World Cup while Dr. Carsten Krebs, PR Manager of VWSA, discussed the socio-economic expectations and how South Africa can learn from Germany as the 2006 host country. Furthermore, Dr. Doreen Atkins, Manager of the Heartland & Karoo Institute, explained how smaller towns will benefit from the 2010 FIFA World Cup^TM.

Walter Passet, Chairperson of Port Elizabeth Metro Bed & Breakfast Association (PEMBBA), raised concerns regarding the state of accommodation from the bed and breakfast owners’ point of view which lead into a round table panel discussion. Various issues were raised regarding the World Cup as well as the branding and marketing of the city. This led to the conclusion that more synergy between the private and public sector should take place as well as the fact that the private sector should become less fragmented. Another point raised by Ms Vuyo Zitumane, Chairperson of the Eastern Cape Tourism Board, was the need for diversification where tourism offerings are concerned.

“We as Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism are excited that the initiative has been taken to host this much needed Tourism Business Summit and believe that it has formed a platform from which relationships between the public and private sector will be formed to grow tourism in Nelson Mandela Bay into a thriving sector” said Fezekile Tshiwula, CEO of NMBT and panel member of the round table discussion.