East Griqualand - Where the Spirit Roams Free

East Griqualand Tourism News

East Griqualanders boost tourism By: Nkululeko Nyembezi: The Informer 25/02/03

Kokstad business people and tourism organizations have engaged themselves in improving the tourism standards around Kokstad area. Last weekend had been great for local tourists while having a trip to experience the natural beauties in the semi-rural and peri-urban areas of the East Griqualand.

The two-day trip started at Mount Currie Inn on Saturday with a tourism Indaba with different speakers from various tourism organizations. The speakers include James Seymour of Tourism KwaZulu Natal, who highlighted the importance of the gateway between KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape.

Seymour demonstrated the website hosted by TKZN and encouraged people to take advantage of registering as members of the Explore E.G. Nicky Macleod and Sissy Matela of Environmental Rural Solutions listed numerous tourism attractions already identified during the current audit of facilities in East Griqualand.

Local speakers Pat Lowry of KZN Wildlife Eco Tourism, Leon Kotting of the Kokstad Chamber of Commerce and Shane Wicks created an awareness of great potential of East Griqualand.

They talked about abundant bird life, includes nestling colonies of the wattle crane, the cape parrot and white wing fluff tails. Rivers that can be paddled and others with trout, lakes mountains grasslands and much more. We also have 4 x 4 terrain horse and hiking trails and our cultural diversity.

Dudley Smith a councillor for the Ingwe Municipality excited everyone's imagination with the possibility of Railway Tourism. He said they have already achieved much. He emphasized the support of the municipality to make tourism work.

Lesley Schroeder of the country life magazine pointed all concerned in the direction of ferreting out our attractions and to learn how to create media interest, to draw tourist to our region. The day ended with a steak evening at stoney brook Adventure Ranch, one of East Griqualand’s local attraction.

Gabi of the Explore E.G. the organization that organized the tour said the aim was to make awareness to the East Griqualand community about tourism in the area. She said, tourism could boost the economy of the area and create employment.

“Joblessness and poverty are the main factors with negative impact but I believe that tourism sector can change the lives of the rural people in every respect,” She said, East Griqualand has long been neglected, now is the time for the world to know us. She boasted that the East Griqualand is reach in legendry, hospitality and described it as right destination for both local and international tourists.

The boastful comments about cool relaxation and hospitality was also echoed by Jabu Manyathi, the local tourism anchor of Matateile, Maskal Guest Inn.

Tourism Gateway in Kokstad 02/10/2003

In a bold new move to showcase the wonders of the Kingdom of the Zulu throughout the province, and even on the doorstep of neighbouring Eastern Cape, Tourism KwaZulu- Natal (TKZN) opened a new Gateway Tourism Information Office in Kokstad in September.

The tourism authority identified the town as a key gateway entry point into the province, and in partnership with hotel group, Explore EG, opened the office at the Mount Currie Inn to provide comprehensive information to both consumers and the tourism trade.

The launch of the new information office coincides with the authority’s Tourism Awareness campaign, to counter the negative effects of crime in the province and take tourism to the people.

James Seymour, TKZN Information Services Manager, said, 'Our tourism strategy clearly identified the provision of information as being a key element of our marketing framework'.

'The office achieves one of our objectives of providing a vital information service. In this respect we have also opened offices at other key gateway entry points, including the airport, and formed partnerships with local Community Tourism Organisations (CTOs)'.

'Our consumer research has consistently demonstrated that there is a general lack of awareness of the diverse tourism attractions and services of this province. There is also a tremendous desire amongst this province's tourists to participate in a wider range of tourism-related activities. There is thus a need for a more effective tourism information service in this province.'

He said while the office will operate as a tourist information bureau to the trade, it will also market the province to key investors, tour operators, business and the media.

'In KwaZulu-Natal, the provincial theme mirrors the national agenda in that it aims to generate pride amongst its people about their region and its attractions. It also seeks to encourage them to travel and experience it, while continuing to create awareness about the importance of tourism to the province.'

'This is a signal of many things to come from Tourism KwaZulu-Natal as we put our province on the tourism map, eventually to become Africa’s premier tourist destination,' he said. Seymour said, 'It is hoped that the new Kokstad office will not only create a greater awareness of the entire 'Zulu Kingdom', but also the East Griqualand area. This fascinating area, is a region, which has often been ignored in terms of tourism marketing effort.'

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