Bitou News

Join us for a fun-filled and thoroughly entertaining day of Blues and Blues-inspired live music at The Barnyard, Plettenberg Bay.

Wowing you this year will be:

Mel Botes
Ann Jangle & Basson Laubscher
Lonesome Dave Ferguson
Gerald Clark
Basson Laubscher & Violent Free Peace
Crimson House
The Black Cat Bones

Licenced Bar, Light snacks and loads of giveaways

Gates open at 12:30
Bands start on the hour, every hour from 14:00

R250 per person
(includes unique Blues gift valued at R80)

We regret:
NO PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF 18

Pack your picnic baskets with food and snacks but let us provide the drinks – alcohol, juices, coffee, water etc!

We depend on your support of our
“NO OWN ALCOHOL/BEVERAGES” policy as we are a fully licensed venue.

This will enable us to keep providing top entertainment to our supporters in Plett!

Visit our website often to see our updated show schedule!
Our venue is ideal for Corporate Functions, Year-End Parties,
Weddings & Birthday Parties!

Send email to jeanne@stormproduktionz.co.za to enquire!

HELEN ZILLE PRAISES GARDEN ROUTE REBUILD INITIATIVE:
“NEW MODEL FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT.”

This will make a significant contribution when dealing with other, similar catastrophes
“The first thing that we’ve done differently is to establish a project management office outside of the three municipalities, but with the participation of officials from those municipalities.

“Secondly, we’ve developed a partnership with the private sector, which has raised money for the disaster – and representatives of the donor fund are intimately involved in the GRRI: they attend our steering committee meetings and our work stream meetings, and they’re part of the planning process, which means that they already understand the vision for projects for which we need funding.

“And the third thing we’ve done differently is the way we’ve approached the concept of disaster recovery – which previously meant restoring the status quo to what it was before the disaster struck.

“We’re saying, no: we want a different, better Bitou and Knysna, where people are more prosperous, more integrated, and better housed than they were before.”

“Under our motto to ‘Build Back Better’ we have, for example, developed a new vision for the region as a skills hub, and we’ve also developed a strategy to improve the housing situation – a strategy that the three mayors and their municipal managers and officials will ratify when they meet on the 11th of December,” said Dr. Fast.

She said that the rebuild strategy – with its six pillars of tourism, light manufacturing, local business, skills development, urban planning, and environmental management – has been presented at community meetings in Knysna and Bitou, where the strategy has been warmly supported.

Premier Zille congratulated everyone involved with the Garden Route Rebuild Initiative.
“I’m very excited about the GRRI because it’s showing us how we can turn the corner in a crisis, and that – despite frustrations and challenges – it is possible to come up with new, innovative solutions to turn disaster into opportunity,” she said.

More information: www.gardenrouterebuild.co.za
View Premier’s keynote speech at the SCLI seminar on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LGniX83Pdso

 

GARDEN ROUTE: PUBLIC SAFETY FORCE PREPARED
FOR PEAK HOLIDAY SEASON

Bitou municipality’s Senior Manager of Public Safety, Andile Sakati, held an inspection of its Public Safety force – comprising Traffic Control, Fire and Rescue, and Law Enforcement – as part of preparations for the forthcoming holiday season.

Municipal Manager, Thabo Ndlovu, said: “Over the high season there is a threefold increase in the number of people in Plettenberg Bay, and we have to ensure that visitors to our town feel safe at all times so that tourism, the driver of the local economy, can flourish and grow.”

In his address to the Public Safety Force, Bitou mayor, Peter Lobese, said: “I have full confidence in your abilities to handle all the many difficulties that may present themselves during the course of the peak holiday period. I witnessed how competently you operated last season and I know that you will again carry out your duties correctly and conscientiously over the coming months.”

Lobese inspected a guard of honour and was given an overview of the vehicles and equipment used to maintain safety, law and order in the municipality. A demonstration was carried out by the Crowd Control Unit of the techniques employed to control riotous and unruly behaviour.

Bitou Municipality has acquired three new fire-fighting vehicles in the wake of the horrific June fires, and keys for the vehicles were officially handed over during the course of the morning. The cost of the vehicles amounted to R2.05 million (€125 000). This was made possible as the result of a R1.45 million (€88 000) contribution from Western Cape Disaster Management and Fire and Rescue Services, with the balance being provided by Bitou Municipality.

-THE GREMLIN

Plettenberg Bay is without question one of the South Africa’s most scenic destinations offering beach, warm waters, winelands and a whole array of adventure activities for those wishing to seek the perfect holiday destination and indeed for those of all ages! Its panoramic views compare to those of the Mother City of Cape Town.

Tertius Myburgh

CemAir offers regular scheduled flights to Plettenberg Bay from both Johannesburg and Cape Town. Cape Town for example connects straight to London and the world beyond and Johannesburg offers onward global connections, South Africa’s primary resort town is indeed now connected with the world which is very exciting news for this seaside town, which until a few years ago only used its Airport for private flights, thanks to Miles van der Molen CEO of CemAir and his team, the dynamics have changed and are set to change even further in the future.

Tertius Myburgh, an aviator with many years of technical expertise in flying, which commenced in 1993 at the Lanseria Flying School. Myburgh has flown with South African Express Airways (SAX) for 5 years, proceeded to operate his own company with Air Shuttle flights to Kathu and Sishen, before heading operation (COO) for CemAir for three years, flying the entire fleet’s aircraft and reporting directly to van der Molan. Myburgh has over the duration of time flown complex repositioning flight with short haul aircraft as well as Jets, on the North and Southbound routes across the vast Atlantic to and from North America, which requires enviable flying skills. In 2017 Myburgh launched Plett Air, thus creating a “hub and spoke” concept at Plettenberg Bay’s Airport using a mixed fleet of aircraft.

Plettenberg Bay as a result primarily of CemAir flying in is once again placed firmly on the map as a leading destination for holiday makers to enjoy with ease and without flying via George or Port Elizabeth as has been the case for a number of years. One can now fly into Plett direct from South Africa’s two major cities and with the introduction of Air Shuttles by Plett Air to Graaff Reinet, Samara Private Game Reserve, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve and Shamwari Private Game Reserve, the Eastern Cape is enviably linked to Plettenberg Bay in the same manner that lodges in the North of the Country and Sabi Sands in particular are linked to Skukusa and Nelspruit. Future plans for Plett Air which holds a marketing agreement with the acclaimed Tourism Corporation Africa (the original) spearheaded by Andrew Shapland in London, New York and Cape Town will be to evolve this Air Shuttle in such a manner that Plettenberg Bay continues to expand and develop and regains market share.

Kurland Hotel and Polo Estate, will be hosting 11/12 November acclaimed journalists and publications from across the land to showcase this service and that offered by CemAir. The guests have all been offered exceptional choices of activity personalised to their own needs by Plett Tourism, to show case the spectrum of what is really available in this delightful seaside town, to all levels of the market and indeed all consumers. Two fabulous days in Plett what more could one hope for before connecting with Plett Air to the Karoo Town of Graaff Reinet, onwards to Samara Private Game Reserve, helicopter flights with flykaroo.com to mountain picnics and finally flying to Kwandwe before returning to Plett to fly onwards to Cape Town or Johannesburg with Cemair. Those publications attending are:

TBC Media: Nicky Furniss
Business Day: Lesley Stones
The Sunday Times: Claire Keeton
Affluence Magazine: Ronald and Cindy Nair
Rooi Rose: Karyn Harrison
Val de Vies Mag: South Africa’s acclaimed
Les Aupiais

Plett Tourism is making concerted efforts to once again increase market share, revpar and the overall number of visitors to the town in partnership with key stake holders in the private sector both nationally and internationally, quotes Peter Wallington Chair of Plett Tourism and it is our intention to increase these efforts both nationally and internationally in 2018.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Official hashtag: #plettitsafeeling
FB: https://www.facebook.com/PlettTourism
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Plett_Tourism
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pletttourism/

-THE GREMLIN

 

SIX BLUE FLAG BEACHES AND TWO BLUE FLAG BOATS FOR PLETT

The announcement of the 2017 International Blue Flag results revealed that a total of 44 South African beaches have been awarded Blue Flag status this year, along with seven marinas and eleven sustainable tourism boats.

The Western Cape has achieved the highest number of Blue Flag sites, with 28 of the beaches, all eleven boats and six of the seven Blue Flag marinas falling in the province.

Plettenberg Bay has received Blue Flag status for six beaches during the 2017/18 season. This includes Robberg 5 (9th year), Keurboomstrand (7th year), Nature’s Valley (6th year), Lookout (4th year), The Dunes (2nd year) and the newest to join Blue Flag status is The Singing Kettle beach.

Offshore Adventures has added to Plett’s outstanding marine experiences with both of their boats, Robberg Express and Oceanic Express, receiving Blue Flag status for the year.

Applications for the prestigious Blue Flag eco-label were reviewed earlier this year and put through a rigorous approval process involving both national and international assessments. The announcement of the 2016 International Blue Flag results revealed that a total of 44 South African beaches have been awarded Blue Flag status this year, along with seven marinas and eleven sustainable tourism boats.

The Western Cape has achieved the highest number of Blue Flag sites, with 28 of the beaches, all eleven boats and six of the seven Blue Flag marinas falling in the province.

Plettenberg Bay has received Blue Flag status for six beaches during the 2017/18 season. This includes Robberg 5 (9th year), Keurboomstrand (7thyear), Nature’s Valley (6th year), Lookout (4rd year), The Dunes (2nd year) and the newest to join Blue Flag status is The Singing Kettle beach.
offshore-adventures-boat

Offshore Adventures has received Blue Flag status

Offshore Adventures has added to Plett’s outstanding marine experiences with both of their boats, Robberg Express and Oceanic Express, receiving Blue Flag status for the year.

“We are honored to have another beach awarded Blue Flag Status for 2017/2018 and to receive the same accolade for two of Offshore Adventure’s boats. The beaches and water-based activities are two very important components of our tourism strategy.

The addition of these awards are testament that all role-players involved with beach development and marine activities are committed and understand the key role that tourism plays in our community,” says Plett Tourism Media Manager Patty Butterworth.

Blue Flag is the prestigious, voluntary eco-label for beaches, boats and marinas that is recognised as a trusted symbol of quality and is regarded by the World Tourism Organisation as the most well-known global eco-label.

The Blue Flag Programme, which has been running internationally since 1987, is focused on the conservation of marine and coastal habitats, and is designed to raise environmental education and awareness, and increase sound environmental practices among tourists, local populations and beach management. To achieve Blue Flag status, as many as 33 different criteria spanning over four aspects of coastal management have to be met: water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, and safety and services.

The criteria are asset by the international coordinators of the Blue Flag campaign in Europe, the FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education). Each Blue Flag site is compelled to conduct several environmental education activities during the year, and to practice effective and efficient conservation management. The detailed criteria and award process is available on Blue Flag’s international website www.blueflag.global. – THE GREMLIN