Tourism and film

The Covid-19 fourth wave badly dented hospitality’s recovery.

The final shot. Dean Burmester won the South African PGA Championship at St Francis Links. Credit: Sandy Coffey

The exciting win by Dean Burmester in the South African PGA Championship at St Francis Links should have been a shot in the arm for Eastern Cape tourism leading into the high summer of 2020.

Instead, it was shots in the arms for Covid patients as the fourth wave descended on South Africa within days of the highly successful event, condemning many tourist establishments to more months of little or no income. Domestic tourism continued but the UK’s decision to put South Africa on a “no-fly” list had drastic consequences.

Small crowds were allowed to watch the golf tournament, which was presented by the PGA of South Africa in association with St Francis Links and the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA). Other sponsors and supporters included Dirk Ellis Motors, Cape St Francis Resorts, the Sunshine Tour, Allesverloren Wines and SPAR. This indicated how important golf tourism might be in the provincial mix.

Infrastructure upgrades are ongoing at several tourism sites run by the ECPTA: the National Department of Tourism is funding the Interpretation Centre at Bavianskloof (a World Heritage Site) in the amount of R42-million; a further R9-million will be spent on a hiking trail; the National Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) will spend R45-million on the chalets at Cape Morgan. Work has been completed on the Silaka Nature reserve in Port St Johns at a cost of R11-million, another DFFE project. The ECPTA is tracking and profiling tourists’ needs and their perception about the province. The film industry has great potential for growth. The ECDC invested to support the filming on the Wild Coast of the popular TV series Survivor: Immunity Island, which brought excellent returns in terms of finance and exposure.

The interior of the Eastern Cape is home to several highend private game reserves such as Shamwari, Mount Camdeboo and Kariega Game Reserve. Some luxury game lodges are located within national parks, such as the Gorah Elephant Camp, which is run by Hunter Hotels and forms part of the Addo Elephant National Park.

Premier Hotels has two hotels in East London, the Mpanga Private Game Reserve and it manages the East London International Convention Centre. The Radisson Blu in Port Elizabeth offers five-star luxury overlooking Pollock Beach. Tsogo Sun has five Eastern Cape properties. The Courtyard Hotel, City Lodge Hotel and Road Lodge are close to one another on Port Elizabeth’s beachfront and allow the group to cater to three distinct markets with a total of 442 rooms. East London has a Road Lodge. Sun International runs the Wild Coast Sun and the five-star Boardwalk Casino and Entertainment World in Port Elizabeth. ■

ONLINE RESOURCES

Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency: www.visiteasterncape.co.za Mandela Bay Development Agency: www.mbda.co.za SECTOR INSIGHT A major golf tournament attracted a host of sponsors.