Tourism in the Nelson Mandela Bay region is set to get a boost over the next five years.
This follows Cabinet approval for the Marine and Coastal Tourism Implementation Plan (MCT), which was welcomed by the Minister of Tourism, Tokozile Xasa, as it will advance the Nine-Point Plan through Operation Phakisa’s Oceans Economy.
The Implementation Plan was led by the Department of Tourism and was developed in partnership with various tourism stakeholders with the aim of ensuring growth within the marine and coastal sector.
“The plan will uplift tourism in the ocean economy. It will grow a world-class and sustainable coastal and marine tourism destination that leverages South Africa’s competitive advantages in nature, culture and heritage,” said Communications Minister, Ayanda Dlodlo, who briefed the media recently regarding Cabinet decisions.
The CMT will be implemented in a cluster approach, which will prioritise destinations rather than individual tourism projects/products. The identified nodes in the first phase (zero to five years), will encompass the following geographic areas:
-Node 1: Durban and surrounds (KwaZulu Natal)
-Node 2: Umkhanyakude District, including Umhlabuyalingana and surrounds (KwaZulu Natal)
-Node 3: Port St Johns to Coffee Bay (Eastern Cape)
-Node 4: East London, Port Elizabeth and surrounds (Eastern Cape)
-Node 5: Cape Town and surrounds (Western Cape)
-Node 6: West Coast and surrounds (Northern Cape)
Initiatives in the various nodes cover six thematic areas, namely, marketing, events and routes; regulations and permitting; research and spatial planning; beach precinct development, tourism infrastructure and tourism safety; maritime tourism; and skills development.
According to Herald Live, Chief Executive of Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism (NMBT), Mandlakazi Skefile, said the plan would aid the NMBT to “leverage off the natural resources and the beauty our destination has to showcase while enabling us to harness and unlock untapped potential”.
“With Port Elizabeth being included as one of the six nodes, this will further enhance the existing coastal and marine offerings through the implementation of a comprehensive marine tourism and leisure sector strategy.”
The South African Maritime Safety Authority said marine tourism ranked among the top four sub-sectors of the country’s maritime economic sector projected for monumental growth within the next two decades.
According to the authority, it contributed R19 billion (€1.2 billion) to SA’s Gross Domestic Product in 2013, with current projections indicating yields up to R44 billion (€2.8 billion) in 2020, rising rapidly to R134 billion (€8.6 billion) in 2033, which will generate between 800 000 and one million jobs.
“The coastal and marine tourism sector will contribute about R21.4 billion (€1.3 billion) to the GDP and create about 116 000 direct jobs by 2026, thus reducing poverty, inequality and unemployment, while contributing to sustainable livelihoods and development. These estimates are conservative as they are growing off a low 2015 base of R11.9 billion (€765 million) direct contribution to GDP and 64 400 direct jobs,” said Minister Xasa.
In response, Skefile said while the NMBT was unable to establish how many jobs would be created at present, “we know the implementation plan will positively contribute to our area…”. “Already, we are one of the most researched bays due to our diverse marine biodiversity as well as Nelson Mandela University being one of only three offering a maritime curriculum.”
She added that the Bay was already home to a world-renowned Hope Spot (ecologically unique areas), it was known as the bottlenose dolphin capital, and in addition has the largest colony of endangered African penguins.
The area boasts Blue Flag beaches, biomes and ocean safaris, just to name a few.
“Recently being host city to the African Marine Waste Conference, the Southern African Marine Science Symposium and the South African Maritime Industry conference, the city is already seeing increased business and positive results,” Skefile added.
