Update
GRAAFF REINET NEWS - Friday 22 July at 12:00 noon is the deadline for voting in the Kwêla kykNET Dorp van die Jaar competition.
Graaff-Reinet has officially been voted in as the Eastern Cape finalist for 2022 and those who would like to support the gem of the Karoo are requested to please SMS "Graaff-Reinet" to 33157.
A maximum of 30 votes per cellphone number, charged at R1,50 per vote, is allowed.
According Kim von Behr Imrie, manager of the tourism office, it has been noted that some members of the community are not in support of Graaff-Reinet as Dorp van die Jaar, primarily based on issues relating to municipal service delivery, as well as the belief that they are excluded from the benefits of the competition.
However, whilst the negative sentiment is understandable, it needs to be remembered that the initiative is driven by tourism and not by the municipality, and that the entire town will benefit from winning.
The winning town will receive R1-million worth of marketing from kykNET, and a 45-second video produced by Homebrew Films which will also be aired on kykNET.
In addition, the annual KIA Makietie (festival) will be hosted in the winning town and Kwêla will cover the festival which will be broadcast on the show. The free advertising will bring more visitors to town, and this will boost our local economy.
Moreover, it will allow the tourism industry to recover after the Covid-19 lockdown.
The tourism industry has always been one of the biggest employers in Graaff-Reinet, but due to the lockdown there has been a significant number of retrenchments. An increase in tourist activities will automatically generate new employment opportunities within the industry.
Regarding the issue of service delivery, it must be emphasised that the combined efforts of tourism, the community and the municipality to get Graaff-Reinet ready for the competition has been fantastic.
“It is a wonderful achievement and a demonstration of what can happen when the community and municipality work together,” said Von Behr Imrie.
“GraaffReinet is looking forward to a rejuvenation in tourism and winning Dorp van die Jaar will certainly help in this regard! Every vote will count to help Graaff-Reinet win.”
The winning town in the 2022 Kwêla Dorp van die Jaar competition will be announced on Kwêla on 31 July.
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