GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The Garden Route District Municipality launched a partnership with Wesgro, Satsa (Southern Africa Tourism Services Association) and Fedhasa (Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa), as well as local tourism offices in the Garden Route on Monday 11 July.
The Destination Garden Route and Klein Karoo project was initiated at the event.
The project's purpose is for all the parties to collaborate in promoting tourism in the region through efficient utilisation of resources between the stakeholders. A memorandum of understanding was signed.
The areas of collaboration include marketing and promotion, events, strategic initiatives such as cruise and air route development, and tourism. Joint marketing and development initiatives will also be undertaken.
District Mayor Memory Booysen said, "The Garden Route brand will now be promoted to the domestic and international traveller in a joint approach, supported by government, together with the private sector that will participate and do all the right things to showcase this region as a whole."
The partnership was officially launched at the King George Hotel in George. It coincided with the establishment of the Sustainable Tourism Cluster workshop that is part of the Garden Route Growth and Development Strategy, as well as seven priority clusters that had been identified.
At the launch are, from left: Corleen Barnard (tourism manager of Oudtshoorn and De Rust), Joan Shaw (tourism manager of George, Wilderness and Uniondale), Mayor Memory Booysen, Monika Ieul (chief marketing officer at Wesgro), Melanie Wilson (GRDM manager for Economic Development and Tourism) and Lusanda Menze (executive manager for Planning and Economic Development at GRDM).
The event where a partnership between the GRDM and various tourism bodies was established, was held at Protea King George Hotel.
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