4 SEPTEMBER 2019
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THE VILLAGE
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The arrival of Spring in the Overberg is heralded every year by bright, yellow fields of blooming canola. This photo was taken by Hedda Mittner on a recent outing to Gabriëlskloof Winery on the Swartrivier Road off the N2. Above is a White-fronted Bee-eater (Merops bullockoides) which local birder, Jenny Parsons was fortunate to come across in Betty's Bay. She also spotted this Orange-Nodding Head (Liparia splendens) on a recent walk in Pringle Bay.
Celebrate Tourism Month Writer De Waal Steyn
W
ith spring on our doorstep, the Overberg is ready to celebrate Tourism Month during September. Frieda Lloyd, Overstrand Tourism Manager, says this annual celebration is held to focus on the importance of tourism for the local economy and to promote domestic tourism among South Africans. “Cape Whale Coast will be using the opportunity to introduce an initiative called ‘Share the Love’ to recognise the many compassionate gestures in our community and encourage others to spread their kindness, warmth and humanity. It’s about smiling more and
acknowledging those who help us in our everyday lives. It’s about emotional gain and being grateful for what we have and where we live. “Through this initiative we want to focus on the many positive attributes of our region – nature, wine, whales, sharks, penguins, arts, adventure, romance and food – but most of all we want to unite our communities with a link of appreciation,” says Lloyd. As the Overberg grows, so does the importance of the Blue Green Economy as it is set to become one of the biggest drivers of tourism to the area.
The Blue Green Economy refers to unlocking the economic potential of ocean and land resources while aiming to reduce environmental risks and ecological scarcities through sustainable development, without degrading the environment. “There are many simple things we can do to assist in the fight to save our natural resources. As a responsible tourism destination, the Cape Whale Coast wants to share the blue green heart of our economy by reducing single-use plastics, including straws, bags, take-away coffee cups and water bottles,” says Lloyd.
“This tourism month we want our people to share their stories about making a difference in the lives of other people. By connecting our communities, we create an atmosphere of positivity. If we make this place great for ourselves, we are in fact making it great for our tourists. “The economic benefits of something like the whale season stretch much further than just accommodation and meals. Visitors make use of all our other amenities. Locals should also take part in the wide array of activities on offer and travel locally to among others, our wine routes.
The value of the ocean economy has been predicted to be as much as $24 trillion, according to a study done by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). “With this in mind we ask everyone to be tourists in their own towns. Visit a place you haven’t been to before, do something new, try something different. A local excursion ties in firmly with the call for South Africans and our Overstrand residents to travel domestically during Tourism Month to get a better understanding of the affordable, exciting and world-class attractions that are available on our own doorstep.”