KNYSNA NEWS - Dissent among members of the DA was clearly evident at a special council meeting on 14 March, when Knysna Tourism presented before the mayoral committee feedback of the year's activities – and essentially asking for an increase in their annual grant of R4-million.
The meeting momentarily swayed into a heated exchange between DA councillor Peter Myers and mayor Eleanor Bouwer-Spies when the floor was opened for questions after the presentation, and ended with Myers being subdued, somewhat forcefully, after being critical of Knysna Tourism's feedback.
More funding, please
Knysna Tourism hopes to secure more funding when the budget is tabled in the coming months.
Clive Bennett CEO of Knysna Tourism started the presentation with a situation analysis and constraints, and mentioned that they inherited a town that had been devastated by the fires of June 2017, saying that “the future of tourism was in question, there was a risk of a major tourism failure”.
In terms of sales and marketing the town, Bennet pointed out, among other things, that they attended international tourism roadshows, appeared on SABC, issued media releases, and provided marketing support to refined and recategorised festivals and events with media coverage through digital platforms, social media, radio interviews, locally and nationally.
Funding-model limitations
Then came the financial status of the organisation, and Bennett stated that with the change of the funding model from grant-in-aid to the service level agreement (subject to 14%/15% VAT), the funding was effectively reduced from R4-million to R3.5-million.
He said the grant-in-aid from the municipality to Tourism in 2005 totalled R4-million, and “escalated at 6% per annum compounded in today's terms, equates to R8.5-million”.
“Yet we received a net amount of R3.5-million. With tourism regarded as the key economic driver to Knysna, consideration needs to be given to increasing this annual funding in order for Tourism to be meaningfully grown in line with the recently revised national government directive.”
DA councillor Peter Myers
Longer contract, please
Bennett also asked for a minimum three-year contract with confirmation of funding to allow for effective business planning and for the recruitment of specialists who will have tenure of contract.
“The current one-year term compromises recruitment, business planning and opportunities. We are unable to forward plan,” he said.
More staff, please
He added that they need to appoint a trade relations manager, a graphic designer, and a general manager on a three-year contract, as well as a destination marketing company for specific projects, and they need to relocate the visitor information centre to the Waterfront, among a list of other requirements.
“We will provide a draft budget to Knysna Municipality by 31 March of a recommended business model,” Bennett concluded.
But Myers was having none of it.
Too many negative, says Myers
“It is shocking that this is the first time this financial year that we are receiving any sort of feedback from Knysna Tourism,” Myers told council, saying he felt there were too many negative aspects in the presentation.
“If you can't perform, you can't exist, it is as simple as that,” said Myers, “I have a list of 14 concerns…”
“This is not a bashing session, please ask a question or stop talking,” Bouwer-Spies intervened. “We know you like public bashing, but this is not the place to do it.”
Myers was then not allowed to continue, his final words of the session being, “I want it on record that I was not allowed to speak during this item.”
Council concluded by saying that they've noted the presentation of Knysna Tourism and will take a decision before the budget is finalised.
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