The Western Cape MEC for Economic Development and Tourism, Alan Winde, has warned visitors to the region that traffic authorities will be tough on drunk drivers.
His blunt warning came on the same day that Western Cape Transport Minister, Robin Carlisle, released video footage of motor vehicle accidents in an attempt to get motorists to improve their driving behaviour so that we can reduce fatalities on Western Cape roads.
Speaking at the roll-out of Cape Town Routes Unlimited’s (CTRU) summer tourism marketing campaign on Tuesday night, Mr Winde said he had two messages:
The first one was to urge people involved in this service industry, which has become one of the most important cornerstones of the region’s economy, to up their game.
“Give people who come here their best holiday ever. We need to lift our service levels,” he said.
The second, he said, was about the province’s road safety campaign, called Safely Home.
“Safely Home is a multi-pronged strategy to change driver behaviour. As well as encouraging drivers to take responsibility for their actions, we will be tough on any transgressors. Visitors from out of town won’t be exempted,” he said.
Basic rules that all motorists must follow include:
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Slow down
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Don’t drink and drive
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Buckle up
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Leave your cell phone alone
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Watch out for pedestrians
Mr Winde urged those who sell alcohol and drink alcohol to make sure that they did so responsibly.
He praised CTRU for launching its tourism marketing campaign, called Your Best Summer Ever. “We all have had our best summer ever at some time in our lives. It’s always a good feeling when you think about it. That’s why I think that this campaign is great.”
Calvyn Gilfellan, CEO of CTRU, said black professionals would be the primary target of the drive to welcome more South Africans to visit the Western Cape.
He said seven years of consistent feedback had underscored the need to persuade this growing market segment to make a visit to the area a priority holiday.
During the roll-out, held at the Two Oceans Aquarium on the Cape Town Waterfront, 11 times South African free diving champion, Hanli Prinsloo, dived into the I&J Predator Exhibit tank, to swim with predators, including a ragged tooth shark.
She said: “I wasn’t scared as I have been in the ocean with bigger sharks.”
For more information on the campaign visit:
www.tourismcapetown.co.za/summer
www.facebook.com/TourismCapeTown
www.twitter.com/TourismCapeTown
Enquiries:
Tammy Evans
Cell: 082 378 2235
E-mail: tevans@pgwc.gov.za
Calvyn Gilfellan
Cell: 082 334 6098
E-mail: calvyn@tourismcapetown.co.za
