Gansbaai has been shortlisted for the World Travel Market Responsible Tourism destination award! The awards function will be held at WTM London on the 4thh of November and Gansbaai will be represented by Glenda Kitley. It is the combination of products and how they implement responsible and sustainable tourism that has led to this nomination. Wesgro (Western Cape Tourism marketing agency) has agreed to sponsor the air ticket and Gansbaai Tourism has applied to the Overstrand Municipality for sponsorship as well. What a wonderful accolade it will be for Gansbaai if we win! In the meantime things are not standing still and a number of things have been happening. The chairlady of Gansbaai Tourism was asked to join a panel at the SATSA conference held in George on 15 August. The topic was Responsible Tourism - shifting the focus to real issues. And other members of the panel included Paul Miedema (Calabash Tours) and  Glynn o Leary (MD Transfrontier Destinations). Brenda touched on things like how the community of Gansbaai along with the Overstrand Municipality work together to achieve sustainable and responsible tourism initiatives.

Glenda represented Gansbaai at the Mini Indaba held in Hermanus recently. This mini Indaba was held at the Marine hotel and was organized by Charmaine Beukes of White shark projects. Over 70 travel agents, tour operators and other role players in the tourism industry were treated to two days in the Cape Whale coast. They met with various product owners, experienced various activities and tasted the fare that Hermanus and Stanford had to offer. Representatives of the Cape Whale Coast including Glenda and Eric Davalala are marke-ting us at the Getaway Show in Johannesburg this weekend. Maureen Valentine the information officer has just completed a customer care course in Hermanus thus up skilling her qualifications and she will now be able to better serve the tourists coming into the bureau. Staff from various other pro-ducts in the area also attended the course sponsored by the Cape Whale Coast LED - and these included Tolbos, White Shark Projects, Whale Song Lodge and Saxon Lodge. Ally Msweli the intern has now qualified as a site guide and he will be establishing the Masakhane Township tours and will also be used as a guide for other ventures for example on the Duiwelsgat hiking trail and Klipgat Caves and he has also been asked by the Beachcomber guide to assist with the those tours. Gansbaai Tourism held a short orientation course for their members staff on 30 July followed by site visits on 20 August. The attendees were given a on the various attractions and products in the greater Gansbaai area and the visits included the Klipgat caves, Fairy Garden in De Kelders, APSS and Panorama Natures haven.

More of these orientation courses will be held in the future. The Constitution of the Gansbaai Tourism Association was signed in August 1995 so they are in fact celebrating 15 years of service to  and marketing of the greater Gansbaai area. The AGM will be held on Tuesday 15 September and all are invited to attend. If you would like to part of this award winning team contact Glenda or Doulene and they can tell you more about membership and the value added proposition which has been set up by Caron Lee of the marketing committee. The development committee has also done their bit. Three years ago Katrina started a garden competition in BLompark and this has really flourished. This year the competition has been extended to Masakhane and people in the greater Gansbaai area are encouraged to enter. More information from the bureau. Judging takes place in the week of 23 November. Gansbaai Tourism can be contacted at 028-384-1439.

Glenda Kitley (Manager: Gansbaai Tourism)

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