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EDITOR: BETTIE GILIOMEE
M etro tto o rrevitalise evitalise Metro h oliday rresorts esorts holiday
The state the Beachview resort was in 2015.
REPORTER
T
HE Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is working on a new policy and management model to maximise the potential of the neglected holiday resorts in the metro. According to Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) Executive Mayor Athol Trollip, over the years, all six holiday resorts in the metro have been neglected and left in a state of ruin by the companies to which they had been outsourced. “This has been allowed to go on unabated through a lack of leadership and foresight,” Trol-
PHOTO: DIE BURGER
lip said. “Currently, the NMBM is deriving limited revenue from the operation of these resorts, namely Willows, Van Stadens, Beachview, Maitlands and Springs as their potential has not been maximised for the benefit of the city,” Trollip added. He said that by nature, resorts were environmentally protected areas and as such, the new policy sought to ensure there was full compliance and that the necessary legislation was adhered to. “Once the policy has been completed, it will go for public participation before it is presented to the full council for adoption. It is hoped that
its adoption would take place once the Integrated Development Plan is adopted in May. “Its introduction would inform the successful management of these prized facilities through tailor-made and resort-specific management models,” Trollip said. He said the metro was positioning itself as a sports tourism city and a preferred tourist destination of choice. However, the current state of the resorts did not bode well for the city’s tourism blueprint as they were below acceptable world-class standards, he said. Trollip further added that passing this policy would pave the way for the appointment of a ser-
vice provider, who would carry out the necessary refurbishment work and restore the facilities to their former glory. “This coalition government is committed in ensuring that the city gets a return on its investment through a watertight management and revenue generation system. “The years of neglect and lack of development at these facilities has denied the city millions of rands in revenue collection,” the Mayor said. “We want to change this by turning these facilities into world-class tourism spots. This will ensure the full enjoyment of these resorts by the Metro residents, as well as the domestic and overseas visitors.”