SUMMER SECURITY: Safer, but not safe enough — Nelson Mandela Bay’s beachfront vandalism endangers festive tourism
Safety along Nelson Mandela Bay’s beachfront has improved, but vandalism, poor infrastructure and a declining family holiday market threaten to undermine its tourism revival.
Nelson Mandela Bay's beachfront has seen improvements in safety, but persistent issues like vandalism and poor infrastructure threaten to hinder the region's tourism revival. Additional tourism safety officers, expanded CCTV coverage, and better lighting have contributed to the increased security. However, the municipality still needs to deploy enough security personnel to protect public assets and prevent further damage.
The holiday season is a crucial time for tourism, as it traditionally generates significant revenue and employment opportunities for the local economy. Denise van Huyssteen, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, highlighted the importance of addressing visitor safety, unreliable infrastructure, and service delivery issues to attract more holidaymakers.
To boost tourism, the chamber's 12 geographic business clusters are working with the municipality to improve safety, infrastructure, cleanliness, and overall business environment. The chamber aims to create a more sustainable tourism economy that generates meaningful employment, particularly for the youth and supports local livelihoods.
Shaun van Eck, from Discover Nelson Mandela Bay, emphasized the need to attract families during the summer school holidays, as this market has declined significantly. He suggested offering more free activities and promoting holiday experiences through social media to encourage visitors to share their positive experiences. The World Lifesaving Championships, starting in December, is expected to provide a much-needed boost to the tourism sector, but attracting visitors requires a broader effort to understand and meet the expectations of families seeking a holiday.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
