This area is blessed with excellent cultural experiences, a number of marine sanctuaries and bathing beaches. Given its proximity to Cape Town and with the main access route to the east coast, the Overberg also serves as a complimentary area for group tours to and from the Cape metro.
As a Government we have initiated the integrated tourism development framework, which has identified eleven areas earmarked for future tourism development over the next 10 years.
One of these areas is the Overstrand corridor stretching from Rooi Els in the West to Gansbaai in the East. Hermanus is considered to be the hub of this corridor.
The Provincial Government has already announced plans to link Gansbaai (to the east of Hermanus) to the Cape Agulhas area through the building of an access road. Planners in the Provincial Treasury tell me that this is first major road construction in the Western Cape in more than 20 years.
This will stimulate tourism throughput for the whole of the Overberg region. Hermanus and other towns in this area should look at how they can capitalise and benefit from this government initiative.
However these benefits will not be enjoyed by all if we do not tackle the challenges that face us. One of the most important challenges facing the tourism industry is the question of how do we all ensure that Historically Disadvantaged Communities are absorbed into this industry as players? Over the next few months I will spell out my vision and we hope to engage all the players in the industry on this matter.
The important thing that drives me is that transformation and Black Economic Empowerment must take root in this industry. Government has demonstrated its' willingness to come the party through initiatives like the Gansbaai-Cape Agulhas Road. We have and are continuing to lay the basis for an environment that allows for tourism to thrive.
All we are asking is that the industry must engage with us, walk the road with us to make this industry better, beneficial and most importantly representative of the Western Cape Province and the rest of the country as a whole.
Thank You.
