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1. Mandla & Cwenga Visit Knysna Again
Reportedly their “favourite destination in South Africa”, Mandla and Cwenga, our “Moments with Us” couple, have returned after their visit here in February when they brought us social media posts on ‘Romance in Knysna’ for Valentine’s Month. This weekend, they have returned to “get engaged in Knysna” – at the Simola Hillclimb. Watch our social media posts for their exciting announcement and itinerary. Congratulations Mandla and Cwenga: we wish you every happiness as you start the planning for your wedding and future together – and you’re always welcome in Knysna. Their weekend in Knysna will be followed by the launch of an Instagram competition to win a 3-night stay in Knysna, with vouchers for activities, meals and accommodation.
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2. Simola Hillclimb this weekend
Well done to the organisers of the Simola Hillclimb for hosting the event, even though it is unfortunately a virtual event. The Simola Hillclimb takes place this weekend, 3 – 5 September, and can be viewed on TV. Read more here
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3. Unveiling of Sedgefield’s Love Bug
On Saturday, we officially unveiled the “Love Bug” off Kingfisher Drive in Sedgefield, the next iconic installation of the Interactive Art Project. If you have not yet had a chance to visit this ‘masterpiece of mosaic work’, do yourself a favour and take family / friends to join you for some ‘selfies’ in this beautiful art piece. Well done and thank you to Masithandane’s mosaic team and the many other local service providers who played a part in putting together this gem of an attraction. It is truly magnificent – and fun.
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4. Tourism Month Activations
A number of happenings are taking place during September, Tourism Month. A reminder that the Sho’t Left Travel Week Sale takes place 6 – 12 September (submissions for participation close today). Our new billboards at the town entrances will go up shortly; these are aligned to this quarter’s theme of ‘wellbeing and rejuvenation’. We have scheduled information sessions with local garage/filling stations, security companies and the red-bib car guards to introduce their frontline staff to direct visitors towards the many tourism activities that are on offer in the greater Knysna area. Then, on Heritage Day we will have an information stall at the market at the Knysna Deli whilst also launching the next iconic art installation, the Rasta priest at Judah Square.
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5. Casual Day – 3 September 2021
Today we are supporting Die Werkswinkel and the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) in their “Casual Day” programme to create awareness of and for people with disabilities. The theme for this year is ‘courage & kindness’: encouraging people to have courage to assist people in need and open doors to kindness in South Africa.
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6. Stakeholders Engagement – save the date
At 10h30 on Tuesday, 14 September 2021 we will hosting our next Stakeholders Engagement. The official invitation with details will be shared next week, but please diarise in the meantime to join us on that date.
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7. Access to WESGRO’s newsletters
As Wesgro continues to implement various POPIA processes across the organisation, the following link allows external clients the opportunity to sign-up for Wesgro’s various marketing (i.e. newsletters and updates) databases, per Unit. Please click on the link to register to receive communications of interest to you https://wesgro.co.za/corporate/open-for-business
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8. Register on the Western Cape’s Convention Bureau as a Corporate Incentive Travel Product
From the second week of September, the Cape Town & Western Cape Convention Bureau will be rolling out a new campaign encouraging corporate incentive travel called ‘ Rethink, Reward, Recharge’. Accommodation establishments and experiences from around the province are encouraged to be listed (free) on the campaign’s microsite (- which will be referenced similarly to the Kids Stay Free microsite, the link herewith for an example of the look and feel - https://wesgro.travelstart.co.za/). Interested products can email Lerisha@Wesgro.co.za for further details on registering to the Travelstart team’s platform. |
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10. Africa Travel Week – Tourism Trio Competition
As part of their efforts to Unlock Africa, Africa Travel Week headlined by WTM Africa and ILTM Africa will be launching its ‘Tourism Trio Trivia’ competition in September to connect your customers with your website, with the competition encouraging people to explore your products by visiting your website and social media pages to find the answers to the questions. For each exhibitor that submits a competition prize, they will promote your website and 3 questions selected by you for your customers to answer to be in the running to win that prize. Should you be interested in being part of the ‘Tourism Trio Trivia’, please email atw@bigambitions.co.za with your prize (with associated terms and conditions), your website link and the 3 questions, with associated responses. |
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11. Tourism Monitors – Applications Open
The Department of Tourism (NDT) is inviting applications from interested candidates to be a part of the 12 month Tourism Monitors Programme. The closing date for applications is 10 September 2021. Applications from any interested person within the greater Knysna area (and Garden Route), who meets the qualifying criteria as stipulated in the advert, must submit their application to gardenroute@networxcareers.co.za . For more information and qualifying criteria, read more here. |
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12. Vaccination: T-cells, immunity that lasts
In the interest of opening up of our travel and tourism industry, as well as the safety of your loved ones, we encourage stakeholders in our industry to vaccinate. The statistics about COVID-19 vaccine efficacy have only focused on one aspect of immunity: antibodies. But there’s another aspect too: T-cells: immunity that lasts. Read this e-Nounce article |
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13. COVID-19 Vaccination Awareness Session
The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) has arranged for a COVID-19 Vaccination Awareness Session with Dr Nelis van Zyl Smit. You are invited to attend this webinar at 13h00 on Wednesday, 8 September 2021.
Click here to join the engagement: https://gardenroute.zoom.us/j/92645202577
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Into the garden I go. To lose my mind and find my soul.
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Take care, stay safe and please continue to observe protocols.
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The ‘go-to’ page for all visitors coming to enjoy the Western Cape.
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