KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna's mayoral committee will suggest to council that the service level agreement (SLA) with Wesgro should be extended to manage the town's tourism function.

"The SLA with Wesgro expires at the end of February," said Mayor Levael Davis.

Anticipating the expiration of the existing SLA, the previous administration had advertised the function in three separate tenders, but received a limited response.

Davis has approached the premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde, to intervene and request that Wesgro consider extending the agreement. Winde delegated the Department of Economic Development and Tourism (Dedat) to work with the municipality and Wesgro to facilitate progress in this matter.

"The mayoral committee and members of senior management held a virtual meeting with representatives from Dedat on 8 February," Davis said.

"It was agreed that council will be requested to extend the SLA with Wesgro until the end of June this year. We must ensure that proper consultation takes place and that we do all we can to support this most important industry and economic driver."

Davis explained that the current thought processes must be reviewed and the function must be streamlined. 

"This takes time and we must ensure that proper consultation takes place. Dedat has committed to assist us with compiling proper specifications, to hold workshops with council and industry stakeholders and to assist us with developing a strategy for the way forward. We must ensure that we make the right decisions when making future appointments to this important function."

Knysna was ranked number 19 in the Tourism Sentiment Index's "Leading Places: 100 Most Loved Destinations in the World" list for 2021. This list was compiled through an intensive data study analysing more than 1,6 billion online conversations and content pieces, including approximately 21 330 global destinations.

"Knysna is an important role player of the Western Cape's - and South Africa's - tourism offering, and its continued success is crucial to the economic and social growth of our greater municipal area," Davis said.

"I believe it will be beneficial to all for us to work with Wesgro in the interim, and Dedat in the medium term, to build and strengthen relationships and solidify Knysna's place on the national and global tourism must-visit list."

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