The Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA), in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Museum and various other stakeholders, hosted a two-day event to showcase key tourism attractions, engage the communities, and combat crime against tourists in Mthatha and surrounding areas.
The first day of the event kicked off with a 6km public walk from Ultra City to the Nelson Mandela Museum, which served as a powerful demonstration of the community’s commitment to tourism and the safety of the tourists. Participants were united under the theme “A United Front Against Crime,” showcasing the collective effort to create a safe tourist environment.
ECPTA Tourism Development Senior Manager, Fezeka Mlungu, said, “We are here to say that crime against tourists must stop because it is killing our economy. Employment is a huge problem in our province, and if tourism businesses unfortunately close down, it means those employed in this sector will lose their jobs.”
Day two of the event began with a tour of the Nelson Mandela Museum in Qunu, followed by the exclusive breakfast session for stakeholders, where key initiatives and strategies for boosting tourism and ensuring tourist safety were discussed.
This breakfast session also served as a platform to celebrate tour operators, strategic stakeholders in tourism and heritage, and media houses for their significant role in promoting the museum and its offerings.
Imonti Tours Tour Operator, Velile Ndlumbini, one of the award recipients, said they have been promoting the Nelson Mandela Museum in Qunu, but the itinerary was very thin.
“I am happy with the inclusion of new activities in the area. The tour will benefit the community as we can extend it to more than one day,” said Ndlumbini.
