Speaking at the official opening of the Caledon Wild Flower Show, the Western Cape Minister of Tourism and Gambling said that flower tourism is very important for the Western Cape, because it attracts visitors to the rural areas, sparking job opportunities and potential tourism income for rural people.

Joyce Witbooi said the Cape Floral Kingdom is the smallest of the world's six plant kingdoms, covering only 0,04% of the earth's surface. It is rich in variety, boasting 8600 species of which 68% occur nowhere else in the world.

She said that the Province's dedicated flower hotline, 24 hours a day 7 days a week, demonstrates its commitment to attracting visitors to rural areas. The Western Cape Tourism Board and the Northern Cape Tourism Board also publishes a flower guide to promote the Cape's spring flower season.

Minister Witbooi said she considers it important that locals visiting Western Cape regions, demand quality service and value for money from tourist destinations. "In this way we contribute towards the tourism standards in our Province, and making people of the Overberg proud to sell the Overberg to the rest of the world."

Minister Witbooi made out a plea for responsible tourism, calling on the industry to carefully balance the conservation of the Western Cape's natural resources with developing our tourism potential. "Let us better our premium products - our flowers, wines, traditional food and hospitality. Let us improve our existing products, rather than adding more tourism products and destroying our natural resources in the process."

The Caledon Wild Flower Show runs till Monday, September 15, 2003.

For more information on the Caledon Wild Flower Show,contact Hannetjie Morgan,
cell: 082 498 6107

FLOWER HOTLINE 083-910-1028

Issued by: Western Cape Ministry of Tourism and Gambling
Media liaison: Hélène Rossouw
Cell: 082 771 8834
herossou@pgwc.gov.za