GEORGE NEWS - A critical look at George’s state of readiness to act as base camp host for the Soccer 2010 World Cup reveals that there is still a lot of work to be done with less than 50 days left before this momentous occasion.
A most critical aspect affecting the whole region is the ability of airline SA Airlink to render a reliable service. The constant cancellation of flights and sudden changes of scheduled flights (without notifying passengers) have placed a serious question mark as to whether there are any guarantees for the three soccer teams from Japan, Den-mark and France to be able to arrive and de-part without a hitch.

Wish list
High up on the wish list of things that would have made George more attractive to tourists would have been a well lit town square lined with cafes and restaurants, and a CCTV security system protecting shop-owners as well as shoppers. But alas that is probably an out of reach unattainable pipe dream that will most definitely not happen this year, or at all.
More achievable goals would be the improvement of road signage and lighting up the central business district (CBD).
Currently the streets in the CBD are un-der-lit, and there is no incentive to linger longer - quite the opposite. There are many dark and dingy areas (even near the George Civic Centre). Being approached by beggars in those areas is distinctly off-putting to well travelled Europeans.

N2 road signs
Road signs and streetlights on the N2 highway, and in the vicinity of the George Airport, leave a lot to be desired. Airport manager, Brenda Moses said the tragic accident in which a motorbike rider was killed recently once again highlighted the need for streetlights at the stop street to Blanco on the old airport road.
Tourism information road signs to Fancourt, from the airport, have been notice-ably absent for many years. Fancourt ma-nagement says they are working on this issue.
Hyatt Regency Oubaai marketing manager Wayne Ward, said he would be gratified if there were more road signs to Oubaai from the N2. Getting permission from the road authorities to put up these signs is a red-tape nightmare. This is unfortunate as there is no better way to make visitors feel welcome than when they can find their hotel readily.
Many tourists will be renting a car and they will find it disconcerting to make their way about the town, due to the lack of basic information on the roads.

Bureau needs sprucing up
Former George Tourism Bureau chief, the late Ludrich Barnard, had declared it was his heart’s desire so see the bureau building cleaned up. At present the grass is growing out of the gutters and leaves from the old oak tree have caused a streaky, muddy appearance on the facade of the otherwise handsome, Edwardian style building, which is certainly in need of a scrub down.

Two critics of the bureau were scathing in their comment on the appearance. Christine Schnaufer said: "It is the least welcoming info office in this region and that fence is an eye sore."
Another critic, Kenneth Grobler said: "The building faces onto an unattractive picket fence, there is no garden and this while we are in the centre of the Garden Route. The information board is illegible, everything is filthy and it would not cost much to clean the place up - just some el-bow grease. This is proof that municipa-lities should not be driving business ventures, and worst of all, this is 50 days before 2010 while officials are flitting around overseas."
In the meantime city council are deciding when to print new streetmaps, the public transport debacle has not been sorted out and Cape Town Tourism Routes Unlimited (CTRU) should pull up their socks and provide decent information on George on their website www.tourismgeorge.co.za

Municipal public relations officer Cathy Dippnall promised comment from management.

Article: Pauline Lourens