GQEBERHA – Tourism has recovered strongly nationally, but Nelson Mandela Bay has yet to see the same level of recovery, according to Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber CEO Denise van Huyssteen.
Van Huyssteen said overnight visitors and airport volumes had also not recovered to pre-Covid levels as the Chamber launched a Tourism Economic Development Desk aimed at turning the metro’s tourism assets into greater economic opportunities.
The new Desk will bring businesses and other stakeholders together to identify opportunities, strengthen collaboration and turn those opportunities into practical action.
Tourism’s economic contribution
Van Huyssteen said the need for a stronger focus on tourism was underscored by the sector’s contribution to the national economy.
Tourism directly contributed R361.7 billion, or 4.9%, to South Africa’s GDP in 2024 and supported more than 950,000 direct jobs, with a significant multiplier effect across sectors supplying tourism businesses.
“The national tourism sector has demonstrated a strong recovery, but we are not seeing the same level of recovery in the Bay,” Van Huyssteen said.
Direct and indirect tourism employment in the Bay is estimated at about 18,500 jobs, while overnight visitor expenditure of approximately R6.2bn in 2025 represented only 3.1% of the metro’s economic value add, she said.
“Overnight visitors and airport volumes have also not recovered to pre-Covid levels. We can no longer blame a global pandemic six years ago for our current shortcomings. Tourism needs to be taken much more seriously.”
Turning tourism assets into opportunities
The Chamber believes the Bay has significant assets that could support a stronger tourism economy, including its coastline, heritage, biodiversity, arts and culture, manufacturing and agricultural heritage, sporting events and liberation history.
The Desk will work particularly closely with the Chamber’s Beachfront, Walmer and Baakens Valley geographic clusters, where tourism is experienced directly through restaurants, attractions, neighbourhoods, public spaces and cultural precincts.
Its focus will include improving the visitor experience, developing tourism routes, products and experiences, strengthening destination messaging, supporting events and business tourism, building skills, and connecting tourism businesses with opportunities through the Chamber’s broader network.
“This is not about creating another tourism structure or duplicating the work of existing tourism organisations. Our role is different. We bring businesses together, connect sectors, mobilise our members and partners, and turn identified opportunities into practical action,” Van Huyssteen said.
Focus on practical action
The Tourism Economic Development Desk is the next action arm to be activated within the Chamber’s Bay of Opportunity umbrella.
“The Bay has incredible stories waiting to be told. Too often, we overlook what is right in front of us,” Van Huyssteen said.
“While we must confront what is not working, we also need to recognise, celebrate and promote what is working and turn our assets into memorable experiences that create local economic opportunity and jobs.”
The Desk is supported by private-sector partners including City Lodge Hotels, First National Bank, Boardwalk Hotel and Casino, and Coega Steels.
Van Huyssteen said the Chamber’s broader network would also allow the Desk to connect tourism with other areas of economic development, including entrepreneurship, skills development, and trade and investment.
“As a highly labour-intensive sector with strong multiplier effects, tourism has a ripple impact across transport, retail, arts and culture, personal services, financial services, real estate and construction. These economic and job-creation opportunities are why we are launching this Desk,” she said.
“Ultimately, this is what Bay of Opportunity is about – recognising the opportunities around us and working together to turn them into reality.”
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