New Western Cape MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Alan Winde, says it is one of his top priorities to solve the current impasse between the province and the City of Cape Town over regional marketing organisation, Cape Town Routes Unlimited (CTRU). 
 
“We can’t have the province and the city fighting about how to promote the region,” he told the Fedhasa Cape AGM in Cape Town last week. Winde said he was meeting with relevant stakeholders to ensure cohesive planning at both levels and to explore how the provincial and municipal marketing budgets might be combined. “I am committed to finding a solution and a platform that will be in the best interest of your business,” he told about 100 representatives of the local hospitality industry.
 
Cape Town municipality last year withdrew its 50% funding from CTRU over unhappiness with its performance and instead mandated Cape Town Tourism to take over the marketing of the city. Winde said this was proving to be a huge constraint. “Not only has our marketing budget halved, but competition between CTRU and Cape Town Tourism is causing a duplication of efforts and brand confusion. On the political front, I will soon be engaging all parties in an attempt to find resolution so that we can move forward.”
 
Winde said he also hoped to resolve – well ahead of the annual licence renewal in November – outstanding concerns regarding the contentious Western Cape Liquor Act. He warned that the Democratic Alliance-led provincial government would “not bend too much concerning licensing and sale of liquor by unlicensed outlets”. However, he undertook to find a way to address the concerns of hotels and restaurants concerning the limited trading hours proposed by the municipal draft by-law.