The countdown to the arrival of the Southern Right Whales is always a special time as we await the arrival of “our” whales. The arrival of the whales translates into more visitors to the area and more often than not people who stay for a couple of days and not just drive-through’s. In the meantime things have been happening - the bureau itself is undergoing a facelift and this will all be complete by the end of June. The Cape Whale Coast went to the Tourism Indaba in Durban earlier this month and I had the honour of being the representative once more.  

Suné Greeff, Whale Coast Tourism manager as well as her assistant, Adinda Jantjies were also part of the team. There were less stands and delegates than in previous years but the delegates that we saw were quality ones and we feel positive that they will be bringing business to our area in the future. It is also important to network with “old” business partners as well. Cape Whale Coast was on the Western Cape stand which won the Indaba best stand award. There were activations on the stand and “our” one was presented by the Dyer Island Conservation Trust. Wilfred and his team spoke about conservation, showed a DVD and provided visitors with marine shooters and snacks. It was very well received. On the Development side our committee has been assisting both Masakhane and Blompark entrepreneurs with registering their businesses. Katrina Adams, one of our committee members is running the garden competition in Blompark again. This involves assistance with the planning and development of a garden. The residents are being taught the skills to be able to enter the business environment as well. The vegetables that I saw last year could quite easily be sold at a fresh produce market.

Wes-Kaap Toerisme het nou ‘n mobiele toerismewa en hulle kom op 10 Junie hierheen. Baie van ons produkeienaars het pryse vir die kompetisie geborg wat deur die Wes-Kaap Toerisme uitgedeel gaan word as deel van die bemarkingsveldtog. Cape Whale Coast is besig met ‘n “face book” kompetisie - Find Wendy - en weer eens het ons produkeienaars pryse geborg. Dit is op die wintermaande gefokus en dus kan ons baie mense in die Julievakansie verwag! Heinrich gaan ook weer na die Patatfees om bemarking, veral vir die Funky Fynbosfees, te doen. Ek het voorheen oor die Funky Fynbosfees  geskryf. Dit vind vanaf 12 tot 14 September in die Uilkraalvallei plaas.

Die inskrywings vir die Bergfietsroetes en die “Trail run” is al oop (http://www.cycleevents.co.za/mtb/funkyfynbos-mtb-race-trail-run-2014/).

The new-look Danger Point Lighthouse is open to visitors once again. The Tourism Bureau is working very hard to have the lighthouse open over weekends. I hope that you have already purchased your tickets for the various perfor-mances / talks/ exhibitions at the FynArts in Hermanus which runs from the 6^th-16^th of June. We have programmes at the bureau. Daar het ‘n paar nuwe besighede in die dorp oopgemaak. Ek nooi julle uit om ‘n draai by die toerismekantoor te kom maak en vir ons julle kontakbesonderhede te gee. Ons ontvang gereeld oproepe waar kliënte vir telefoonnommers vra en ons help graag.

Glenda Kitley (Gansbaai Tourism Manager, 072-291-5564)

 Foto: Vlnr is Liezl van der Westhuyzen (MC), Suné Greeff, Glenda Kitley en Adinda Jantjies, met Eric Davalala voor tydens die Tourism Indaba in Durban