PLETTENBERG BAY TOURISM - Former chairman Peter Wallington earlier this week handed in his resignation from the position at Plett Tourism Association, with a recent "slashing of the Plett Tourism budget" the ultimate cause according to acting chairman Bruce Richardson.

"Peter was the first “CEO” of Plett Tourism, appointed shortly after the completion of the considerable formalities necessary to form Plett Tourism and enter into a memorandum of agreement with Bitou Municipality to take over the tourism function of the Municipality," said Richardson in a press statement issued on 14 June. After a three-year period in which "the re-awakening of Plettenberg Bay became the talk of the Garden Route", a period of uncertainty followed according to Richardson.

Richardson further states in the press statement that "a three year period of uncertainty commenced with parallel alternative agendas entering the tourism space". He also made clear that an "apparent slashing of the Plett Tourism budget" was the factor that ultimately led to Wallington's resignation.
"The stress of this ongoing situation has severely impacted on the lives and health of not only Peter but all members of the Plett Tourism team who have worked incredibly hard under very difficult circumstances without even the assurance of an ongoing income.

"The latest and terminal development has been the apparent slashing of the Plett Tourism budget to half of previously inadequate levels. That is why Peter is leaving Plett Tourism at the end of this month and why Plett Tourism is struggling to maintain momentum," Richardson stated.

Richardson has since taken over from Wallington as acting chairman of the Plett Tourism Association.

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