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September | October | November | December | January | February | March | April | May
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14 |
Soccer | Japan v/s Cameroon | Bloemfontein | www.worldcupticketservice.com | |
17 |
Soccer | Greece v/s Nigeria | Bloemfontein | www.worldcupticketservice.com | |
20 |
Soccer | Slovakia v/s Paraguay | Bloemfontein | www.worldcupticketservice.com | |
22 |
Soccer | France v/s South Africa | Bloemfontein | www.worldcupticketservice.com | |
25 |
Soccer | Switzerland v/s Honduras | Bloemfontein | www.worldcupticketservice.com | |
27 |
Soccer | 1D v/s 2C / round of 16 | Bloemfontein | www.worldcupticketservice.com |
4-11 |
Eric van Enter | Cycling competition |
Gariep Dam | Hilly 0832596439 |
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24-25 |
Kaskar rally | View 2009 Kaskar rally Photo Gallery |
Gariep Dam | Hilly 0832596439 |
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With record visitors expected to our shores, an enthusiastic group of business people and residents alike in and around Lake Gariep have set in motion an initiative to attract and harness overseas’ interest in this huge 365 km2 man-made lake and the surrounding towns, aiming to bring business and visitors to the area.
Ingrid Samuel of Forever Resorts said, Gariep Dam: “We receive hundreds of visitors at Forever every year – some en route between the capitals and some to stay for a few days - but what we felt was needed was a coordinated effort to provide them with a variety of things to do in the area. That’s where the idea of the Promotion Initiative began.”
Marcell Mellet, the main force behind all of the fantastic improvements to what is now the up-market de Stijl Gariep Hotel, added: “It’s great having lots of guests but we want to send them away having really had a chance to taste what Lake Gariep and the surrounding towns have to offer. There’s so much variety here for all ages and we decided that, rather than keeping visitors to ourselves, we should aim at spreading the business so that visitors go away having had a fantastic time and wanting to return.”
“That’s where the idea of an inclusive non-profit website originated,” Rod McGregor Mann of the Glasgow Pont Hotel in Norvalspont said. “Just have a look at www.gariep-route.co.za and you’ll start to get the idea.”
One of the challenges of the area, the group agreed, was to bring together the three provinces which surround Lake Gariep: Eastern Cape (Steynsburg, Venterstad, Oviston, Bethulie); Northern Cape (Norvalspont, Colesberg); and the Free State (Edenburg, Trompsburg, Philippolis, Smithfield, Springfontein, Donkerpoort and, of course, Gariep Dam village).
Asked why those specific towns. “Easy!” responded Philip Schutte, manager of Forever. “We put a compass point in the middle of Lake Gariep on the map and drew a circle of where we thought it would be reasonable for a family to drive in a morning or afternoon to visit a venue for a meal or do some game viewing or perhaps go quad biking, motor cycling, gliding, sailing, horse riding, river rafting, fishing – or even participate in some of the accompanied historical walks offered. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. We know that there are lots more things to do in our area, which is why the website will continue to be a work in progress, as more residents and business people come on board.”
They stressed that membership of the Group is open to everyone living in the area and emphasised that the website would become as useful to locals as for tourists, with the Retail and Services page of the site. To advertise on the site costs just R250.00 and then listing your own special events during the year on the Events page is free.
The Treasurer, Dr Danie van Huyssteen, explained that the Group would love to make advertising cheaper in the longer term and is hoping that some sponsors, who do a lot of business in the area, might come forward to help fund the website and further promotional ideas for the region in exchange for their own banner on the site.
Forever Resorts GM Philip Schutte added that a Brochure for the region with a map is also underway and copies would be available soon throughout the region to hand out to visitors on arrival to get some idea of the things they can do while they are here. “We have up to about 28 spaces for advertisements on the brochure and, at just R300.00, it provides excellent exposure. Businesses can also just have a listing on the back of the brochure for R150.00. The Brochure will be something you can put in your car’s cubby or in your backpack, so easy to keep and refer to during your visit or when thinking about your next one.
“Also,” added Philip Schutte, “any business that advertises on both the website and the brochure – even if it’s just a R150.00 listing on both - qualifies for a 50% discount Day Visitor entry to the Forever Resorts’ facilities for them and their guests, so long as their guests have verification that they are staying at that particular venue. The usual fee is R20.00 per vehicle plus R20.00 per person, so a 50% discount can be quite a drop for a car full of people, and the only times the Resort is closed for Day Visitors are during our high seasons over Easter, which is the 9th to 12th April and the Christmas period of 1st December to 15th January.”
“What really excites us is making this initiative a win-win situation for everyone: residents, business people, as well as visitors,” says De Stijl’s Marcell Mellet. “It brings money and interest to the area and a spirit of cooperation, rather than competition, among the venues. I want my guests to leave, having had a great time and that means exposing and encouraging them to the many varied experiences that other venues and enterprises can offer them.”
“For too long,” says Ingrid Samuel, “people have thought of Gariep and Colesberg as just a stop-over. We know this area of the Bo Karoo is one of the best kept secrets in South Africa. It has low crime and big spaces.”
“And that makes it great for Classic Car Clubs - and Motor Cycle clubs too – ideal for Breakfast Runs or rallies,” added Rod McGregor Mann, himself a motor cycle enthusiast. “The roads are safe and the scenery magnificent. There are plenty of off-road biking opportunities too.”
“Yes,” agreed Ingrid Samuel. “It’s time we shared what we have here and made passing visitors realise that, especially with the high fuel costs today, Gariep can be a destination in itself – whether it’s for a weekend getaway, a week or even longer. It’s a perfect getaway for people from Bloemfontein or Kimberley and, with the Gariep Dam Airfield, people living even further afield have quick access. Next year there’ll be thousands of people from South Africa and overseas travelling between the capitals. We want them to see that there’s a great reason to visit here too.”
If you live in any of the towns above – or in any of the villages or farms in between - and want to get involved, just contact Judith McGregor Mann of the Glasgow Pont Hotel at info@glasgowponthotel.co.za. Participation costs nothing but the rewards for you and for your town could be fantastic, especially with 2010 just around the corner!
This morning (19 February) data: 102,73 % full Overflowing: Inflow: Outflow via the ESKOM Hydro-electrical station: Dam started to overflow at 10h00 on the 17th of February. Officials expect the dam to overflow for at least a week, due to more rain in the catchments area. |
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