Nelson Mandela Bay residents and holidaymakers can expect a safe and bumper festive season, as all key stakeholders have committed to working together to ensure a memorable holiday season for everyone.
A comprehensive plan, with a special focus on crime prevention, traffic law enforcement, and tourist safety, was rolled-out from Friday, December 1, in a collaborative effort between NMBM, SAPS, CPFs, MBDA, South African Tourism Services Association (SATSA), Eastern Cape Parks & Tourism Agency (ECPTA) and the National Department of Tourism.
Speaking at the launch, Acting Executive Mayor, Councillor Stag Mitchell, said that it’s all hands on deck as the festive season is a period where many look forward to just relaxing, spending time with the family, and enjoying what the Friendly City has to offer.
“Among some of the initiatives created through the EDTA are two visitor information centres located: at the Dawid Stuurman International Airport and Donkin Reserve Pyramid and Lighthouse in Central, respectively, tourism safety guides for our locals and visitors during the summer season that are distributed to all tourist establishments, 14 well-trained tourism ambassadors along Route 67 (CBD) – in particular during the cruise-liner season, as well as about 40 tourism monitors allocated to Nelson Mandela Bay by the National Department of Tourism to be placed at identified hotspot areas,” he said.
About 30 cruise liners are expected to dock in the metro during the 2023/2024 Cruise season, with approximately 45 000 passengers visiting the Bay. These dockings will have an estimated economic benefit of over R55 million to the economy. The metro has already welcomed two vessels, and three more will dock in December, and a further 10 in January 2024; the rest throughout the season, until May 2024.There is a wide range of events and activities taking place across NMB beaches, and people will be able to attend. With a total of 34 permanent lifeguards, and 25 seasonal guards who started in December, beach goers can look forward to a fun, family-orientated time at NMB beaches.
A programme will also be launched that specifically focuses on reuniting children who became separated from their parents or guardians while on the beach. This will be executed in conjunction with the Department of Social Development, and will run on 16 and 26 December 2023, as well as 1 January 2024, traditionally the busiest days on the metro’s beaches.
Sean Tappan, chairman of the Beachfront Safety Sector, welcomed the collaborative efforts between the metro and all stakeholders.“We are hoping that with all the people being deployed from Monday that it will be a successful season and the holidaymakers will feel safe on the beachfront.
“There will be a police presence, Metro, Community Policing Forums and neighbourhood watch. We are all going to play a role in making sure that it’s a safe holiday season for everybody, and keep the crime down to a minimum.”
