Tourists can now get an idea of what Buffalo City Metro has to offer all under one roof with the launch of a R4m tourism hub on the beachfront on Friday.
The hub, situated at the Orient Pools right next to the Orient Theatre, is strategically positioned along the Esplanade where an influx of tourists visit the city, said BCM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya.
Ngwenya said they launched the office ahead of an expected bumper holiday season.
“BCM is setting itself up to manage tourists with an office at the heart of the action. The hub will serve tourists as a centre that will house the main tourism office, besides the information desks we have around the city. The office boasts a craft shop and art works from local artists,” he said.
Ngwenya said the office would provide information on the city’s tourism offerings, including accommodation, historic sites and entertainment areas.
“The East London beachfront attracts more than 20,000 people during the summer season, which is why the location of the office will be most effective for the tourists,” he said.
BCM’s economic development portfolio head, councillor Mawethu Marata, said the R4m went into the rehabilitation of the building over a year.
“The building was a restaurant before and later used as a club called Talamanca.
“The building was left vacant and vandalised, and became a home to vagrants which is why the directorate identified the space and applied to land administration to utilise the building as part of the beachfront rejuvenation programme.
“We will use the hub for information dissemination and promotion of tourism in the city. It is easily accessible, especially to national and international tourists who visit the hotels and the beach,” he said.
Marata said the hub would exhibit to the world the rich history, culture and heritage of the city.
“We will be selling our value to the rest of the world and attract tourists and direct foreign investment. We will boost the export of local production and create avenue for the investors to add value to the economy of the city,” he said...