Rebuilding the tourism sector

Scottburgh to Port Edward and inland to Harding, is one of the thriving tourist destinations in the country with various tourist attractions. South Coast tourism attractions include 11 quality golf courses, Blue Flag beaches, world-class dive sites, incredible outdoor adventures and cultural excursions.

region,” she says.

Mangcu is confident that with her extensive knowledge and experience in the tourism industry, she will resurrect the industry and draw in more investors.

Turning around the unfavourable circumstances of the burgeoning tourism industry and unleashing its full potential are among the top priorities for the recently appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KwaZulu-Natal's South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise (SCTIE), Phelisa Mangcu. Following the merger of Ugu

South Coast Tourism and Ugu South Coast Development Agency to create a public entity to promote tourism and spur investment for Ugu District Municipality, Mangcu made history when she became the first CEO of the newly created tourism entity.

The KZN’s South Coast, which stretches 120 km, from

While the area has great potential, Mangcu acknowledges some odds that have been stacked against tourism growth in the past few years.

"The onset of COVID-19, the 2021 July riots, the floods and ongoing water challenges, has made it incredibly difficult for tourism operators. But there are so many positive attributes along the KZN South Coast that continue to attract new and returning visitors to the

Having worked in the tourism industry in Washington, DC in the early 1990s, Mangcu brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. In 1999, she returned to the country where she took on a position in the tourism unit at Industrial Development Corporation, before relocating to Johannesburg Tourism.

She says the creation of the SCTIE marked a significant turning point in the development of the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal because it brought together the knowledge and assets of two organisations to create a more cohesive and practical vision. She plans to introduce new strategies to market the region’s tourism and investment offerings while eradicating barriers along the way.

Driving tourism and investment

Mangcu says she is committed to rural development initiatives. “As SCTIE, our role is to drive tourism and investment in the area by shining a spotlight on the many incredible attributes, from our Blue Flag beaches to our hinterland adventures, as well as the endless investment opportunities that can be found here. We are rebuilding and there is a lot of positive momentum in the local tourism industry.

“This is key to ensuring the tourism economy reaches the entire region and uplifts those in marginalised communities,” she says.

Mangcu reveals that SCTIE has partnered with the Tourism Grading of South Africa (TGCSA) to conduct a quality assurance workshop to promote the recovery and development of rural tourism. The organisation will also partner with Tourism KwaZulu-Natal to raise awareness and allow for information sharing on tourism products and enterprise development opportunities.

Mangcu says that while the aim is to promote tourism, local communities would be at the centre of everything they do to ensure development and transformation. She adds that the entity also assists in the development of tourism Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises in rural communities, as well as training, skills development and business support.

Promoting local tourism

"To inform locals about the nearby attractions from which they can also benefit, we collaborated with the KwaZuluNatal Department of Economic Development, Environment, and Tourism Affairs and held community awareness sessions. There are numerous [governmentl] funded programs that, in our opinion, will help locals support business development, funding requirements, and compliance standards for KwaZulu-Natal South Coast entrepreneurs."

The SCTIE recently launched agri-culture tours, opening up agricultural areas into tourism destinations. As part of the 2022 Heritage Month celebrations, the entity opened the exciting Umzumbe River Trail and the Ntelezi Msani Heritage Centre – a 70-km

Green Flag Trail where visitors explored the hinterland with overnight stays in authentic Zulu homesteads.

“This not only creates employment in the previously marginalised areas, but also provides visitors with a much more diverse tourism offering. These authentic cultural activities and unique outdoor adventures are exactly what visitors are looking for today, so we’re making sure we meet this demand,” says Mangcu.

The SCTIE prides itself in using various campaigns to market tourism attractions found along the KwaZuluNatal South Coast.

“We promote our products on both national and international platforms thanks to our participation in roadshows, exhibitions, workshops, seminars, and summits. This also provides valuable insight into current market trends and assists our tourism establishments in better packaging tourism products to meet existing needs,” adds Mangcu.

The KwaZulu-Natal’s South Coast boasts the highest number of Blue Flag beaches in the province, two worldrenowned dive sites at Aliwal Shoal and Protea Bank’s two iconic gorges – Oribi Gorge and Umtamvuna Gorge, as well as many outdoor adventures.