Nelson Mandela Bay, one of eight metropolitan municipalities in South Africa, located on the shores of Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape Province, famous as Africa’s Watersports capital and a premier ocean - safari destination, the only city globally where the “Big 7 (Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo, Whale, and Great White Shark) roam within its municipal boundaries, has deployed a new cohort of tourism safety officers to strengthen visitor security and deter crime.
The initiative as part of the city’s broader Tourism Safety Plan will include the presence of safety officers across key visitor precincts, including the beachfront.
The officers graduated through the Nelson Mandela Bay Coastal Tourism Policing Initiative are part of a multi - stakeholder partnership involving the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MEDA), the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA), SAPS and Metro Police.
Funded through the TBCA’s Tonsa Collaborative Fund and the MEDA, the programme equips officers with training in peace officer functions, visitor assistance, incident response with law enforcement agencies, supported by patrol vehicles, advanced communication equipment and structured operational systems.
By increasing visibility and deterring criminal activity, the initiative aims to make the city a safer destination, directly promoting business growth, longer visitor stays, and local youth employment.
Executive Mayor Cllr Babalwa Lobishe described the graduation of the new officers as a significant step in positioning Nelson Mandela Bay as a safe and welcoming destination, noting that visitor safety drives business growth and investment.
The Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) CEO Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa echoed this, emphasising that safety is a tourism imperative and not solely a public - sector responsibility.
TBCSA executive added that through the Tonsa Collaborative Fund, tourism businesses are investing directly in initiatives that make destinations safer and more competitive. The initiative reflects a growing recognition across South Africa’s tourism industry that destination safety is centred to long - term competitiveness and visitor confidence.
Link
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks a lot to read and note.