GRAAFF-REINET has officially been voted in as the Eastern Cape finalist for the KwêlaKykNet Dorp van die Jaar (town of the year).
A video insert, filmed on May 26-27 on the fringe of the Stoep Tasting Festival aired, gives a taste of what the town has to offer.
Kim von Behr Imrie, Graaff-Reinet tourism manager, said, “In keeping with the spirit of Stoep Tasting, it showed how novel efforts by locals to bring tourism to the town are paying off.”
Von Behr Imrie said that a planning meeting was held with business leaders and interested parties. “The intention is to encourage enthusiasm to help Graaff-Reinet obtain votes for the next round of voting, which will take place once all nine finalists have been revealed.”
The remaining five will be revealed each Sunday going forward at 18:00 on Kyknet channel 144. Voting will be only from 18:00 on July 17 until midday on July 22.
Voting takes place via SMS’s, up to 30 times per cellphone number and SMS’s cost R1.50 each.
“Graaff-Reinet fans please SMS ‘Graaff-Reinet’ to 33157,” asked Von Berh Imrie.
The winning town will receive R1 million worth of marketing from KykNet, and a 45- second video produced by Homebrew Films, which will also be aired on KykNet.
A makietie (party) will be provided by the sponsor KIA.
The town has a substantial following as evidenced by three of its social media sites: Graaff Reinet Tourism, Graaff-Reinet Magazine and Grand Karoo Graaff-Reinet News, as well as events on Facebook.
“This is largely due to a nostalgic connection with the town, through a very strong old school network.
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