The Makana Municipality has signed a partnership agreement with the Grahamstown Foundation and Makana Tourism to pave the way for edu-tourism in Grahamstown.
The Makana Municipality has signed a partnership agreement with the Grahamstown Foundation and Makana Tourism to pave the way for edu-tourism in Grahamstown.
Makana municipal manager Ntombi Baart, Foundation executive director Louisa Clayton and Tourism Board chairman Earl Hodges on Thursday signed the document prepared by the developers of the project, cIntosh, Xaba and Associates.
Baart says the signing of the partnership agreement is a recognition of "the many milestones already achieved by the partnership". Makana economic development director Riana Meiring said that last year Thina Sinako, a provincial government Local Economic Development (LED) support programme, funded a Makana edu-tourism feasibility study to the tune of R1.1-million.
An edu-tourism board of directors was subsequently established which made recommendations on marketing tourism. Meiring added that the board has therefore been able to create the post of a project leader, which will be filled as soon as they are able to obtain more funding.
Hodges said the signing was a “fantastic opportunity” for the region and he is hopeful that edu-tourism will bring about economic spin-offs. “I hope that as we grow together we’ll see the real benefits, I hope to see positive change in the region,” he added.
Clayton said they are in a phase where they are trying to prove their eligibility for more Thina Sinako funding and that if their attempts are successful the project will take off soon. She is excited about the project because her foundation and the municipality have been involved in edu-tourism for decades; boosting tourism in Makana and generating employment within the tourism sector.
The signing of the partnership agreement is one of the requirements for Thina Sinako. Meiring added that forming partnerships is an integral part of the municipality’s LED strategy.
