"The latest figures show an upward trend in international arrivals, and all indications are that the Western Cape, and thus the Garden Route, will benefit from this."
He said that protracted negotiations with the municipality had lead to a revised budget for Mossel Bay Tourism in the current financial year.
"A portion of our marketing budget was moved into the development and events budget, and those functions have now become the responsibility of the Municipality.
"Most of our marketing over the past year was concentrated on domestic visitors, but in line with the Municipality's LED Strategy, which grew out of the PACA process in which most of us participated earlier this year, we will be increasing our international marketing in the year ahead."
Mr. Bongersurged members to develop packages that will appeal to visitors.
"We know that markets can be positively stimulated when we work together to create packages that include activities as well as a variety of different kinds of accommodation, and which offer rich and varied experiences of Mossel Bay."
He said that social media and web-based marketing are becoming more important by the day, which is why Mossel Bay Tourism decided to rebuild its web site earlier this year. "And this has paid off for us: visitmosselbay.co.za attracted nearly half a million unique visitors in the year to the end of October."
Guest speaker Hans Potgieter, PRO of the Mossel Bay Aero Club,announced that the Sport Aerobatic Club of South Africa and Mossel Bay Aero Club have won the rights to host the Yak-52 and Intermediate Class World Aerobatics Championships (YAKWAC) in Mossel Bay in November 2014.
Mr. Potgieter said that a working group called the Tourism and Air Charter Development Initiative Mossel Bay (TADIM) is investigating the possibilities of developing the local airfield so that it will be able to accommodate charter services.
"This would mean we could offer flights between Mossel Bay and most destinations in South Africa.
"We're looking at services that will link Mossel Bay to destinations like the Eastern Cape game reserves and the Western Cape wine lands, and at services for businesspeople and general travelers."
A clubhouse, fueling facilities, an aircraft maintenance company, and two air training schools also operate out of the airfield - which means that it's already a transport hub that could generate considerable benefits for the local economy.
In closing, Mr. Bongers thanked Mr. Potgieter and the members of the Mossel Bay Aero Club for their contribution to tourism in the region.
He also thanked the members of the board of Mossel Bay Tourism for all the private time they spend on matters that affect the industry, and for their dedication to the cause.
"Our office and the way it functions are highly regarded by tourism practitioners throughout the Western Cape - and we're the envy of many other, much larger towns.
"This is in no small way thanks to a great team headed up by Marcia Holm.
"It's through dedicated people like them - and like the hardworking members of Mossel Bay Aero Club - that Mossel Bay will continue to grow as a preferred tourism destination," he said.
