A MEMORANDUM of Understanding (MOU) was signed between Cape Town Routes Unlimited (CTRU) and Bitou Municipality yesterday, June 25, which sees the tourism partners collaborating to promote marketing activities, campaigns and developmental projects aimed at increasing the market share of the area that the municipality governs.

 “We are committed to working with all our partners to effectively deliver on our promise to maximise the economic and social benefits of tourism to all the people of the Western Cape. As CTRU, we promote and position Cape Town and the Western Cape as the number-one experience destination for leisure, business and events. This agreement clearly identifies and outlines the specific nature and scope of the work we’ll do together with Bitou Municipality to achieve this goal,” said CEO of CTRU, Calvyn Gilfellan.

Tourism development, destination access, co-operative marketing initiatives, tourism safety and investment will be crucial areas of delivery for the benefit of the municipality.

Another milestone is the accreditation of the five local tourism organisations that fall under the Bitou Municipality. These are: the Bitou Tourism Organisation; Kranshoek Community Tourism Association; Plettenberg Bay Tourism Association; Crags Tourism Association; and Kwanokuthula Community Tourism Association. Oudtshoorn Tourism was also accredited by CTRU yesterday. The purpose of accreditation is to ensure that the tourism bodies operate according to international standards of infrastructure, staff training/development with transformation, technology, joint marketing initiatives and accessibility. Gilfellan said while this was a mandatory exercise, it was necessary to ensure that all tourism organisations were operating on the same level to deliver on the tourism offering of Cape Town and the Western Cape.