Tourism authority restructures, repositions

TOURISM promotion and development throughout the Nelson Mandela Metro is expected to benefit from the repositioning of Tourism Port Elizabeth. "With the formation of the metro, we are able to market a much wider range of attractions in what was already one of South Africa's top tourist destinations," says Mike Kwenaite, chairperson of the metro's Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture Committee. "We have an international brand in the name Nelson Mandela. The opportunity for the new metro tourism authority is to use this brand and to promote a much wider range of cultural and natural attractions than the city of Port Elizabeth could offer on its own. According to him a "good start" has already been made on the restructuring of Tourism Port Elizabeth. Strict deadlines have been set for the restructuring. "We have a 22-week plan of action with weekly deadlines," explains Keith Wattrus, the newly-appointed chief executive officer of Tourism PE and who will facilitate the restructuring. He is the former head of the department of Economic Affairs, Tourism and Environment in Port Elizabeth Wattrus is confident of meeting his targets. "Everyone in the metro is really committed to making tourism work. All our meetings with councillors, tour operators, hoteliers, business people and the general public have shown there is a groundswell of support for a new tourism initiative for the metro." A number of initiatives, such as Madiba Bay and the International Statue of Freedom, are giving the authority the tools its needs it needs to meet the challenge of finding innovative ways of putting the Nelson Mandela Metro at the top of any tourist's itinerary, believes Wattrus. (Adéle Mackenzie)