File
The much-anticipated Boardwalk Mall officially opened its doors in a sunny Gqeberha on Thursday after several months of reconstruction.
Eastern Cape Premier, Oscar Mabuyane, welcomed the investment by mall developers, Flanagan and Gerard and Sun International subsidiary, Emfuleni Resorts.
In his address, the Premier said the Provincial Government remains committed to removing hindrances that might affect the growth of the tourism sector and those hurdles that undermine efforts at promoting local tourism.
"The Provincial Government, therefore, seeks to create a conducive and sustainable environment for the private sector to create and retain jobs while ensuring that our natural resources are preserved for future generations."
Meanwhile, Paul Gerard of the mall developers says the project has created employment opportunities for over 1300 people during the construction phase, with the majority being local employees and sub-contractors.
"What is even more significant is that there are approximately another 1500 permanent jobs that have been created
and that includes our management team, security, cashiers, packers, landscapers, and the list goes on," he said.
Emfuleni Resorts chairperson, Bongi Siwisa, says it's been wonderful to witness the evolution and revolution over the past 20 years of what she said was a tourism gem in the province.
"In 2011 we spent R1 billion to create the Boardwalk Hotel. It's one of a kind. The Hotel itself will stand the test of time, as this Mall will do," she said.
Siwisa says they have been creating opportunities for other leisure-industry stakeholders in the region, by positioning the Mall as a significant and exciting tourism product in the country.
Sun International CEO, Anthony Leeming, said that "the redevelopment of the Boardwalk Mall has been in the planning for a number of years and despite all the challenges over the last few years, we are incredibly proud to finally be opening the final phase of the redeveloped Mall."
