New domestic routes and aviation incentive programme augurs well for tourism – NMBM

Despite the prevailing crippling effect of the coronavirus
pandemic on the tourism and hospitality industry, the establishment of the CemAir routes from Gqeberha to East London and Bloemfontein respectively, is an
important step towards revitalising the industry.

CemAir, in existence for the last 16 years, will initially
operate thrice weekly to the King Phalo Airport (East London) and four times a
week to the Bram Fischer Airport in Bloemfontein from 15 September. The company
plans to increase their offering when consumer demand improves.

Acting Executive Mayor Luxolo Namette hailed the aviation
company for stepping up to the plate by making it cheaper and quicker for
commuters to travel at the launch of Tourism Month themed Tourism for inclusive growth at the Boardwalk Convention Centre
last night.

In addition, CemAir committed to create 30 jobs by 2023
and that 75% of their procurement will benefit local service providers.

“A key aim of our programme is to encourage domestic and
local travel, create awareness of product offerings in Nelson Mandela Bay and
strengthen communication and partnerships between the municipality, private tourism
products and stakeholders,” Acting Mayor Namette said.

Aviation Incentive
programme

To build on the success of the Nelson Mandela Bay Airlift
initiative, comprising the municipality, Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber,
Eastern Cape Development Corporation and Airports Company South Africa, that
resulted in the CemAir deal, an aviation specific incentive programme is
now in place.

Acting Mayor Namette said the strategic focus of the
programme is to attract more airfreight operators to establish routes to and
from the Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport.

International routes

Passenger commercial airlines providing a new service will
be incentivised with R2 million over a three year period, cargo airlines
providing a new service over three years receive R1 million and the incentive
for both passenger and cargo airlines to increase the frequency of their
flights will be rewarded with R400 000 over the same period.

Domestic routes

The reward for airlines (passenger commercial and cargo
airlines) for agreeing to provide a new service, is R1 million over a three
year period. The same financial incentive is available for increasing the
frequency of flights over the same period.

Tourism Month

Nelson Mandela Bay Mandela Bay Municipality Member of the
Mayoral Committee for Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture, Siyasanga Sijadu
said as much as the COVID-19 pandemic has a debilitating effect on tourism and
human life, the necessity to overcome this scourge, is forcing our hands.

“A wise man
once said that necessity is the mother of invention. COVID-19, as much as we
lost numerous people, is now a providing a necessary opportunity to provide
solutions.

“We are
coming together at a time when tourism across the globe came to a grinding halt
due to necessary lockdown measures to stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The hospitality sector is facing its biggest test. We are all facing a test of
character and resolve as we are in the midst of the third wave. A potential
fourth wave is predicted to be around the corner.

“With
dedication, innovation and cooperation, we will turn the corner,” MMC Sijadu
said.

Under the
theme Tourism for inclusive growth the
municipal tourism programme will focus on Township Tourism during the first
week, the second week will focus on the individual experiences of tourism.
Culture and Heritage will come into focus during the third week and the future
of tourism in Nelson Mandela Bay will be the focal point during the fourth
week.

Mlungisi
Mvoko, MEC for Finance, Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and
Tourism, pledged his support for the regional tourism programme and said a
massive task lies ahead to restore the tourism industry due to the pandemic.

“In 2018
alone, 104 000 people in the Eastern Cape worked in the tourism sector with an
estimated Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contribution of R11 billion. This is the
success story we are fighting hard to materialise once more for our people and
their livelihoods,” MEC Mvoko said.

The Nelson
Mandela Bay Airlift initiative was established in 2018.

#13;

Issued on behalf of the Nelson Mandela Bay
Municipality by Media Management Officer Kupido Baron (082 780 2726 / 041 506
1500 / kbaron@mandelametro.gov.za / @kupidobaron).