Mbhashe Local Municipality
II. Maize and Maize milling
3.3.11. TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
Local economy has a competitive advantage in Tourism.
Tourism potential can be elicited in:
I. Heritage Tourism II. Coastal Development III. Craft Development
IV. Tourism events and shows
However, the existing potential in these comparative and competitive advantages has yet to be realized. More needs to be invested in unleashing this potential for LED benefits.
While more jobs were realized in the community services, this sector is not a sustainable sector for job creation
Tourism can provide a major boost to the district’s economy, linking the many diverse attractions of Mbhashe. Strong branding is needed to link the different features.
Activities include the following:- I. Heritage Tourism II. Coastal Development III. Craft Development
IV. Tourism events and shows
3.3.11.1 HERITAGE TOURISM
Heritage forms part of socio-economic and cultural development. It contributes significantly to the gross domestic product through tourism, particularly cultural tourism.
The development, marketing and packaging of heritage tourism routes will accelerate the contribution of tourism in the municipality.
There are sites which have been identified for development such as signage, access improvements, information displays and other anchor projects linked to the heritage and
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tourism development such as the Visitor Information Centre for Dutywa. Such sites are identified:-
I. King Hintsa’s grave II. King Sarhili’sgrave III. Sinqumeni caves IV. Fort Bowker
V. Fortmalan Memorial VI. Liberation Route
There are other places identified in the Liberation Heritage Route which is a National Project that seeks to establish a route based on the war against colonialism and national oppression.
Projects included in the liberation route include developing and conserving the notorious
“White House” at Dutywa which was used as a place of torture for many activists of the time.
The other important project is the development of the Mazizi Maqhekeza Resource Centre as an honour to the former Umkhonto Wesizwe freedom fighter.
Challenges
I. Some local communities are not interested on heritage sites especially the affected communities
II. Vandalising of heritage sign boards by local communities is also a challenge III. Limited budget for maintenance of Mbhashe Heritage sites
Remedial Action
I. Developing a heritage strategy that will address the needs of communities II. Conduct heritage awareness campaign at schools and affected communities III. Increase budget
3.3.11.2 COASTAL/NODAL DEVELOPMENT
Areas earmarked for development in the coastal zone include the following:-
AREA PROPOSED
NODE
SUITABLE FOR STATUS QUO
Qhora 1st order Arts & Cultural Fencing of the site and
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Village in the process for construction of Rondavels
Jotela and
Kufolokhwe
2nd order Dwaai Community Lodge
Still following planning processes
Beechamwood 2nd order Camping facilities No development
Nqabarha 2nd order Lodge Project has been
completed and its operating
Dutywa Dam Protected area Conference &
Recreational facilities
Feasibility study was done and completed, looking for a developer
Haven 2nd order Hotel Renovations were
done and completed in 2012
Nkanya 2nd order Estuary Lodge Construction of six chalets has started.
Qatywa 2nd order Chalets Lodge Construction is
currently under way
Table 21
Challenges
I. Financial Constraints or difficult to source funds II. Not easy to get developers
III. There’s no easy access to the coastal resorts because of poor roads conditions Remedial Action
I. Develop a business plan in order to source external funding II. Must be advertised on papers in order to attract investors
III. Conduct awareness to communities about the planned development IV. Involve communities on the planning phase
3.3.11.3 CRAFT DEVELOPMENT
I. Mbhashe Craft Development initiative was launched in 2004, and the structure of Mbhashe Crafters association was finally established in 2011.
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II. Individual craft projects are advised to register as co-operatives so that they are able to trade, and currently approximately 20 crafters that are official a co- operatives.
III. Opportunity is given to crafters to showcase in areas like Grahamstown Arts Festival, MACUFE, Tourism Indaba, Tourism Imbizo and any other area where craft material is strongly marketed.
Challenges
I. The issue of access to market for craft product is still a challenge
II. The dependence of crafters to the municipality for product development and access to market is also a challenge.
III. Political instability and interference has a bad influence on implementing the above programs
IV. Limited budget Remedial Action
I. The individual projects/co-operatives form clusters so that they are able of trade as cluster and access funds as one co-operative.
II. Strengthening of craft development training will improve the quality of their product.
III. Unity among Mbhashe Crafters Association
3.3.11.4 TOURISM EVENTS AND EXHIBITION SHOWS
As part of promoting, marketing and bringing tourists in the area, we had various events hosted internal and external that market Mbhashe to many as a tourist destination, namely:
I. Mazizi/Maqhekeza Memorial Heritage Festival (Internal) II. Umbono Wesizwe Heritage Festival (Internal)
III. Macufe Heritage and Cultural Festival (External) IV. Horse Racing Sport Tourism Event (Internal)
V. Going to Tourism Indaba in Durban and Grahamstown Arts Festival to market Mbhashe as a tourism destination area.
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Challenges
I. Financial constraints II. Less budget
Remedial Action
I. All planned events must be in the IDP and government departments must inform us about their programs that affecting us.
II. To add more budget in order to conduct these events successfully 3.3.12 INVESTMENT ATTRACTION, RETENTION AND EXPANSION
The Economic Development Department has identified a number of gaps in the local economy and is planning to develop a policy or strategy on investment attraction, retention and expansion. The planned strategy will address strategic issues that enhance service delivery in terms of socio-economic infrastructure and recruiting investment into the area, promote Mbhashe as a recognized business destination of choice; by promoting the areas value added goods and services as well as the strategies for commercial and / or economic infrastructure funding models.
It is envisaged that the strategy will translate tangible programmes into investments and possibly realise the rand value of tourism, export, infrastructure and investment. It is aimed at profiling and promoting Mbhashe with the view to facilitate strategic partnerships that will bridge the divide between the first and second economy driven by competitiveness and job creation and narrowing the spatial disparities.
Key outcomes:
I. To ensure successful implementation of the trade and investment conference and exhibition
II. To develop a brochure of fully costed and bankable projects to be sold at the conference
III. To have a business-to-business matchmaking breakfast sessions IV. To expose SMME’s to big business and investment partners
V. To showcase value added goods and services with elasticity of demand VI. To generate new investment incentives
Current Initiatives
However, there are current initiatives which the municipality planned and hoped will attract investment and create jobs. These were:-
I. Construction of Shopping Mall (old tennis court)
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II. Construction of Shopping Mall (N2 Shopping Mall) III. Willowvale Shopping Mall