Tourism body presents mid-term report
The core focus areas highlighted were destination marketing, business and small micro medium enterprises (SMME) support, youth development, product development and tourism awareness.
Ugu South Coast Tourism (USCT) held its roadshow at the Kapenta Bay Resort and Holiday Getaway last Thursday.
Among those in attendance were local business owners, members from various community forums as well as NPOs.
The day’s festivities began with a welcome from USCT tourism development manager Maxwell Mhlongo followed by an address from USCT CEO Phelisa Mangcu, who presented a mid-term report of the tourism year which began on July 1, 2021.
The roadshow was focused on tourism in the Umzumbe, Hibberdene and Port Shepstone areas and highlighted the core focus areas being destination marketing, business and small micro medium enterprises (SMME) support, youth development, product development and tourism awareness.
“A tourism relief strategy was introduced in 2020 and we are still implementing it today and it has worked out very well,” said Mangcu.
A summer and spring campaign were introduced and through national radio stations reached over one million listeners.
” We received great coverage from local media from the familiarisation and media trips, through our longest date package, as well as SABC 3 from broadcasting the show,” Mangcu said.
USCT also partnered with the KZN Department of Arts and Culture and facilitated a one-day crafts exhibition in September 2021 at Southcoast Mall which saw four co-operatives display crafts at the mall which centre management provided for free.
“The South Coast was identified by Tourism KZN (TKZN) as a pilot site to launch the homestay programme in which we worked with TKZN and Airbnb Africa Academy (AAA) to support the programme which saw 20 eligible entrepreneurs in the townships and rural communities train and graduate also in September,” Mangcu said.
The youth development saw the National Department of Tourism (NDT) partnership implement a 12-month tourism monitoring programme, and USCT provided support by assisting in identifying sites where monitors would be placed.
USCT also excelled in product development with the Umzumbe River Trail which is almost ready for hikers and the addition of the Maristella Mission Tourism route set to add more excitement to the trail.
“Sites like KwaXolo Caves and KwaNzimakwe Multi Trails received development support from USCT through directional signage on provincial and national roads and adventure tourist guide training,” said Mangcu.
USCT also facilitated a 15-day training programme of 10 nature and site guides at the Ntelezi Msani Heritage Centre. “We are only halfway through our year, and we are excited to see how the rest of our tourism year unfolds,” Mangcu said.
The next roadshow will take place in Umziwabantu at the ANEW Resort Ingeli Forest on February 23 at 10:00.
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