Despite the financial strain the municipality of Oudtshoorn has faced in the past financials years, the Chairperson for Portfolio Committee on Tourism Ms Beatrice Ngcobo told the municipality management to begin to use tourism as an initiative to create job opportunities in their district.
She was interested in hearing what has the municipality done to improve the local economic development. “It was important for us to come here to do this oversight and be able to see what has the municipality done towards increasing local economic development as tourism has a potential of creating jobs,” said Ms Ngcobo.
The Chairperson further said the municipality should take note and take action against the criminals who steal from the SMMEs (small, micro and medium-sized enterprises) art and craft businesses.
Ms Noxolo Ntenetya, an official from Department of Economic Development and Tourism says in the past two years, a series of initiatives which include sporting tournaments such as mountain cycling to mention one, has brought people together in Oudtshoorn. These tournaments saw an increasing number of people coming to the town.
Ms Alison Moos, Operations Manager at the Cango Caves in Oudtshoorn where Members of Parliament and officials paid a visit, said: “Oudtshoorn is an easily assessable town. There are beautiful waterfalls and there are also big festivals as well as many international feature films being shot in the town, Also, Oudtshoorn provides world-class hospitality for locals as well as international tourists,” she said.
By Sam Khetheng
7 August 2017
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