Betty’s Bay, a jewel on the coastline between Rooi-Els and Kleinmond, is also called “Betty’s Waai” for its strong wind, fresh air, gentle sea breezes and stormy ocean. It is a place of peaceful nights and starry skies, owing to the blissful absence of streetlights, where the francolin’s call is heard and a last shout comes from the sentinel in the mountain calling his baboon family to their sleeping spot.
Here in Betty’s Bay, as anywhere in the world, tourism consists of more than just accommodation, waves, beaches, and the beauty of nature. It is a combination of services and products, therefore the tangible and the experience.
© Prof Melville Saayman 2010
We as host community should make our area attractive while ensuring its sustainability for future generations. This is a very responsible task and therefore tourism needs the knowledge and active participation of the local community in and around Betty’s Bay.
There have been many local initiatives in the past and we need to build on those. In addition, good signage should ideally point the way to our visitor sites such as the penguins, the botanical gardens, and the start of hiking trails. Above all we need an orientation map of our town at the entrances. These are expensive items, and the first of the envisaged projects will be raised at the next BBRA meeting.
I invite all members of our community to contact me at 0711098467 with their knowledge and information so that together we can build a tourist-friendly environment.
Warm tourism greetings until next time!