New Tourism EXCO

Tourism in Prince Albert faces both exciting times and challenges in the next year. We’re all affected by the economic slump but there are also exciting prospects as we encourage new members and look at how to market the town more professionally and adventurously. We also have to consider ways to attract more tourists – both international and local - to visit Prince Albert and to stay longer,” Di Steyn, the newly-elected Chairperson of the Prince Albert Tourism Association EXCO, told the Friend.

At this year’s AGM of the Tourism Association on 20 August, three serving members of the EXCO, Steyn, Mike Upton and Jeremy Freemantle, agreed to stay on for a another term. Elise Senekal and Linda Jaquet are new EXCO members. Elise Senekal will serve as Treasurer, while Jeremy Freemantle will be responsible for Marketing. Linda Jaquet fills the Development portfolio and in due course a sub-committee to manage festivals in the town will be set up.

Outgoing Chair, Bokkie Botha, reviewed the activities of the previous year. Some of the urgent issues that the new committee will have to deal with are the relationship between the Tourism Association and the Municipality, the parlous state of the Swartberg Pass and the festival programme for 2010.

Di Steyn thanked Bokkie and the other outgoing EXCO members, Charles Roux and Mark Steyn and appealed to members and others who had the town’s interests at heart to come forward with constructive ideas and advice.