CAMDEBOO TOWNSHIP TOURISM PROGRAMME Situation Analysis and Township Tourism Strategy August 2012 2 CAMDEBOO TOWNSHIP TOURISM PROGRAMME CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION The key approaches to the conduction of this project are: 1.1 Background Participatory Approach – the input from local communities, businesses, local municipality and tourism stakeholder. Graaff-Reinet and the Camdeboo Municipality have a comparatively well Sustainability of the project is promoted through participatory developed tourism sector to other local municipalities of the Eastern Cape. The approaches, the use of market research and national and international industry has seen an increase in the number and variety of establishments within best practice. the region and the destination has grown to attract both local and international Market based recommendations through an intensive assessment of visitors. The sector has contributed towards direct and indirect employment market potential and feasibility of proposals. creation, however it has yet to integrate disadvantaged communities through business ownership and tourism development. Local knowledge and approaches through intensive interviewing and data collection tools Urban Econ Eastern Cape has been appointed by the Cacadu District Municipality Alignment – the project has been aligned to existing projects and in association with the Camdeboo Local Municipality and the Development Bank studies wherever possible. of South Africa to assist in the promotion of sustainable tourism development in township settlements in the Camdeboo, linked to local and regional tourism initiatives. Chapter 1: Introduction 1: Chapter The specific goal of the project is to conceptualise, design and determine the pre- feasibility of at least five interrelated and appropriate township tourism development projects for the townships of Graaff-Reinet, located in the Camdeboo Municipality. This is to ensure an improved quality of life for the residents of township settlements in the region. 1.2 Approach to the Study The main elements of the study are identified as developing an understanding of the local tourism environment, considering tourism routes within the existing Camdeboo Route and develop concepts on how to foster development of income generating, inclusive projects in the township areas. 3 CAMDEBOO TOWNSHIP TOURISM PROGRAMME 1.3 Study Area The Camdeboo Local Municipality, located in the Cacadu District, is located in the north-western half of the Eastern Cape Province, with a total area of 1.3.1 Camdeboo Local Municipality and Graaff-Reinet 7,232.68km2.The Camdeboo Municipal area is approximately 270km from Port Elizabeth with the R75 and the N9 national road being the major access route bisecting the study area. The Camdeboo Local Municipality is part of an area known as the “Karoo Heartland” which defines a scenic route through the Karoo (IDP, 2007-2012). The Local Municipality is one of the nine Local Municipalities situated within the Cacadu District and incorporates the towns of Graaff-Reinet, Aberdeen and Nieu- Bethesda. The town of Graaff-Reinet is the primary service centre of the Camdeboo Local Municipality. 1.3.2 uMasizakhe Chapter 1: Introduction 1: Chapter 4 CAMDEBOO TOWNSHIP TOURISM PROGRAMME uMasizakhe is situated in Graaff-Reinet. Queen Street in uMasizakhe is the visual 5. Arts and crafts and physical link between the town of Graaff-Reinet and the township, 6. Children’s activities uMasizakhe. This area is emphasised in the report as a development priority, but 7. Eco-tourism it is also considered in terms of its neighbouring townships and tours within the Camdeboo Local Municipality as a whole. The third phase is to extend the benefits of the tourism sector. The objective is to ensure that all sectors of the community benefit from tourism in some way. The The most recent developments within the tourism sector of the Camdeboo has need has been identified by the Municipality and LTO to foster tourism related been the establishment of the Camdeboo Local Tourism Organisation and the SMME’s in the ‘townships’ and ‘suburbs’ around the town centres. launch of the Camdeboo Route both in 2009. This was made possible by the support of the Cacadu District Municipality. The Camdeboo LTO is comprised of 1.4 Methodology representatives from the Camdeboo Municipality, Graaff-Reinet, Aberdeen and The research methodology used is illustrated in Figure 1 below: Nieu-Bethesda Community Tourism Organisations (CTO), as well as various tourism related organisations, such as the Heritage Society. Figure 1: Research Methodology The initiatives of the Camdeboo LTO are outlined as three phases. The first STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENTS phase, which has already been completed, was the development of The Plains of Camdeboo Tourism Route. This project, as identified in the 2009 RTSP, aimed at developing a tourism route for the towns of Aberdeen, Graaff-Reinet and Nieu- Bethesda, which was launched in 2009. The objectives of this route map SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS Chapter 1: Introduction 1: Chapter development were to stimulate the tourism industry and potentially attract more tourists to the aforementioned towns. The route map provides a showcase of local attractions in an easily accessible, comprehensive form. In addition, the POTENTIAL ASSESMENT route was to provide an opportunity for the development of local small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMME’s). The second phase was an initiative to categorise this route into more specialised 1.4.1 Stakeholder Engagement tourist sub-routes. As a result, seven specialised routes have been developed. These are: Primary research took the form of surveys and structured interviews. Key role- 1. Palaeontology players within the local tourism sector were interviewed as to current and 2. Heritage potential tourism development in uMasizakhe and Graaff-Reinet. Interviews 3. Our story included a range of interested parties from both the public and private sector. A 4. Culinary 5 CAMDEBOO TOWNSHIP TOURISM PROGRAMME list of Stakeholders interviewed is provided as an appendix. The following surveys Chapter 2: Policy Review - an overview of the relevant national, provincial, were conducted: district and local policies that affect the specific study area and sector. Graaff-Reinet Tourist Surveys Chapter 3: Townships as Tourism Destinations - this chapter provides an Graaff-Reinet Product Owners Surveys overview of township terminology, tourism and key approaches. uMasizakhe Tour Operators Chapter 4: Profile of uMasizakhe’s History and Culture – this chapter explores Tour Operators Nationally the historical and contextual background of one of the townships in Graaff- A total of 28 stakeholder interviews were conducted and 25 tourist surveys and Reinet. 22 product owners survey completed. Sixteen interviews with homeowners in Chapter 5: Socio-economic and Economic Profiles – this chapter considers the Royal Block were conducted. Four local tour operator surveys were developmental indicators of the relevant study area, including population undertaken. Two interviews with national tour operators and travel agents demographics, education and employment per sector. specialising in the Dutch and German market were undertaken. Chapter 6: Tourism Sector Profile – provides an analysis of the current tourism 1.4.2 Situational Analysis sector as well as the identification of existing and potential attractions and The purpose of this step was to develop a detailed situational analysis of the developments. tourism sector of Graaff-Reinet, by using a combination of both primary and Chapter 7: Draft Potential Analysis – provides an analysis of the potential secondary information. Primary information was collected as mentioned in Chapter 1: Introduction 1: Chapter tourism opportunities in uMasizakhe. stakeholder engagement and secondary data was obtained from a variety of existing documents and reports. Statistical data was obtained from the Quantec Appendix Database. The purpose of this step was to integrate data in order to provide a holistic analysis of the current situation in the project area. 1. Case Studies 2. Policy Review 1.4.3 Potential Assessment 3. Reference List 4. List of Interviewees The purpose of this step was to organise the primary and secondary data in order 5. Stakeholder list to provide an analysis of where potential developments in the tourism sector 6. Questionnaires were available. The outcomes of this analysis were represented in a SWOT framework. 1.5 Report Outline The report comprises the following chapters: 6 CAMDEBOO TOWNSHIP TOURISM PROGRAMME Chapter 2: BRIEF POLICY REVIEW POLICY REVIEW National, provincial and local policies, plans and strategies provide the Provincial Policies: framework in which the tourism sector operates. It is thus essential to ensure Eastern Cape Spatial Development Plan that these plans are reviewed and that suitable conformity to these plans are Eastern Cape Tourism Master Plan made. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a discussion of the pertinent Eastern Cape Provincial Industrial Development Strategy (PIDS) national, provincial and local policies, plans and strategies that affect the tourism sector. District Policies: Cacadu District Economic Growth and Development Strategy (EGDS), 2006 The following policies will be reviewed in this section: Cacadu District Spatial Development Framework (SDF), 2009 National Policies: Cacadu Integrated Developmental Plan 2007-2012, 2011 Review Policy Review Policy Cacadu District Municipality Tourism Master