Busy times for Sheppie Tourism

The local sub-committee has done a sterling job in promoting tourism in the area.
SANDY HILL REPORTS. South Coast Herald

THE AGM of Hibiscus Coast Tourism's Port Shepstone sub-committee was held at the Port Shepstone Country Club on July 24. The mission of the Hibiscus Coast Tourism is to promote prosperity through tour­ism in the area. The objective is to promote tourism development, and to promote the area as a tourism destination.
We are all role players, and together we make a difference, whether you are an employee of the Hibiscus Coast Municipality, a local business, a tourism product owner, a local government employee, or a person interested in tourism.
One must have the attitude that tourism is everyone's business.
The sub-committee reports to head office and we would like to thank them for their sup­port throughout the year, Special thanks also go to Vanessa
Gounden, the tourism officer for the Port Shepstone sub-committee, for her commitment and dedication to tourism.
She manages the office with confidence, and is most informative about tourism in the area. Special thanks go also to the sub-committee, for their commitment and contributions throughout the past yea r. The committee com­prises Mary Jacobson (vice-chairman), Bobby Naidoo, Daya Pather, Carl Whittaker, Petra Rick­son, Julie Cornwall and Cllr Cathy McDonald,

Although Port Shepstone is not a tourist destination, it is the business centre for the Ugu Municipality. However, many activities take place throughout the
year, bringing tourists through or to the area.
These activities include golf, bowls, tennis squash, darts, soccer, the Ugu Jazz Festival, the Lions Show, the tube race, conferences, dog shows, cultural shows and fishing, both coastal and inland.
Events in the summer and Easter seasons are promoted, as are school sporting events, holi­day sporting events, religious ac­tivities, special occasions, wed­ding and parties.
Surfing, dining out, the Sar­dine Festival and much more are on the list,
Spin-offs from other areas include The Loeries, Pop Idols, Oribi Gorge, off-road biking, the Sardine Marathon, butterflies and birding.
Margate has its annual air show, and there are many nature trails to follow.
A lot of marketing of the area was done, and Port Shepstone is included in the package. Whenever the South Coast is marketed the Port Shepstone area benefits. Most visitors will pass through Port Shepstone at some point of their stay, and will spend money in the area. We have to just make sure they want to return to the area again.
HCT exhibited at numerous shows such as the Tourism Indaba, the Royal Show, the Outdoor Adventure Show, the Khyalami Show, the Geta­way Show, the Lions Show and the Beeld Show.
The' Southern Explorer is also a wonderful route guide to the area, and is distributed to most visitors. This year, Port Shepstone was featured on the cover. This is not only informative, but also encourages tourists to travel throughout the area.
Whether you are visiting Scottburgh or Port Edward for a holiday, you are likely to travel through Port Shepstone on a specific tour.
Articles in various magazines highlighted this area as a tourist destination.
The sub-committee, together with the National Ports Authority, held a most informative and enjoy­able function at the lighthouse last year to celebrate the centenary of the lighthouse.
A limited-edition calendar was also distributed to the community, as part of the celebration.
We would like to thank the Na­tional Ports Authority for their assistance which enabled us to hold this momentous function.
The challenges we experienced throughout the year were many, in­cluding liaising with members regarding events being held in the area, marketing of local events, and creating 'ambassadors of tourism'.
Issues also attended to were, crime, general maintenance, the establishment of the new tourism body, and the discontinuation of the Banana Express.
Highlights included a committed sub­committee, the celebration of the Cente­nary of the Lighthouse and the business card network.
We look forward to the year, and will provide our full support to the new tourism body. Tourism in the area will reach new heights!