PLETTENBERG BAY NEWSFLASH - Bitou Municipality has come to the rescue after Plett’s popular Wine & Bubbly Festival sponsor withdrew just over two months before the event was set to be hosted in the coastal holiday town.

Bitou municipal manager Thabo Ndlovu confirmed that the municipality would support the festival, which brings millions in marketing to the area and showcases the region’s burgeoning wine industry, this year.

“We believe it is in the town’s interests that the festival continues to grow and as such we have committed financial support to ensure the festival takes place in 2017,” Ndlovu said.

This after Plett Tourism announced on August 23 this year that the festival would have to be postponed after Sasfin, the festival’s main sponsor, withdrew.

Plett Tourism chairman Peter Wallington welcomed the decision by Bitou Municipality to support the Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival.

“The festival has grown rapidly over three years, and attendance in 2016 was 200% up on 2014. The festival has helped accelerate the growth of the Plett Winelands, which in turn have become a significant new attraction to tourists. 

"All this helps create employment in an industry closely aligned with the Plett brand strategy,” Wallington said.

Read a previous article: Plettenberg Bay Festival back on track

Read more in Thursday's Knysna-Plett Herald, and online.

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