THE decision by the City of Cape Town to go its own way in marketing is wrong and illegal in terms of the Western Cape Tourism Act, says Garth Strachan, Western Cape MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism.
  Speaking at the quarterly plenary session of the Western Cape Tourism Development Partnership (WCTDP) in Cape Town, he said, “problem is, it is setting a precedent in breaking the law, but for the moment the door remains absolutely open to finding as solution”. He said Western Cape Premier, Lynne Brown, had written to Cape Town Mayor, Helen Zille, in this regard. “Duplication of functions and staff and costs is the wrong way to go, but our door is still open to finding a solution,” he added.
 
Strachan was commenting on the city’s decision in June 2008 to withdraw its 50% co-funding of destination marketing organization, Cape Town Routes Unlimited (CTRU) and instead pay membership association Cape Town Tourism (CTT) to market the city.
 
The Western Cape Tourism Act in 2004 created CTRU as an umbrella body to market the 30 municipalities in the province, including Cape Town. Premier Brown previously told TNW the city’s decision to appoint CTT as its own marketing body was contrary to both the spirit and the letter of the Act.  She added the city transferring funds to CTT was questionable in terms of the Municipal Finance Management Act and National Treasury regulations, while its grant to CTT was contrary to its own policy on grants in aid.
 
Strachan said a unified destination brand and consolidated marketing efforts would ensure the success of both established tourism businesses and emerging tourism businesses.
 
“It’s essential that we foster co-operative governance and funding initiatives to ensure cost and time efficient use of our collective efforts and resources,” he said. “We can’t afford to duplicate tourism services and marketing. Working together to grow tourism and its economic benefits, are key to the future of Cape Town and the Western Cape as a tourism destination.”