CITIES AND REGIONS FOR TOURISM: THE CAPE TOWN EXPERIENCE CITIES SUMMIT COP13 I 10 DECEMBER 2016
INTRODUCTION
The Opportunity City Cape Town (2,461 km s in extent) contains:- Globally important Cape Floral Region, Coastline of over 300km, Large inland recreation vleis (lakes) Spectacular mountain ranges and rolling hills encircling the central Cape Flats area. Marine mammal encounters whale and shark and penguin watching. Many tourists are drawn to these eco-attractions The Cape Town Experience 3
Cape Town also contains:- 2 World Heritage Sites 3 Biosphere Reserves 1 Ramsar site In order to enhance tourism, the Cape Town is focusing on: - Protecting Cape Town s environmental assets - Ensuring proper management of the city s biodiversity and coastal areas - Working with stakeholders to ensure an optimum tourism experience The Cape Town Experience 4
The opportunities are balanced by major challenges: Population of 3.7 M The population is rapidly growing (between 1996 and 2011 the population grew 45%) Unemployment rate is high (over 26%) The tourism sector is one of the keys to unlocking economic growth; creating jobs and skills development. The Cape Town Experience 5
PROTECTING CAPE TOWN S ENVIRONMENTAL ASSETS
NATURAL ASSETS: COASTAL PROTECTION Cape Town has approved a policy to reduce risk from storms and coastal processes and to enhance tourism and economic opportunities. Award winning programmes include: Blue Flag status for key beaches Internationally recognised shark spotters programme Shark exclusion net (installed and removed daily during summer) The Cape Town Experience 7
NATURAL ASSETS: BIODIVERSITY AND WETLANDS Aligned with the coastal policy, Cape Town has approved the Bioregional Plan which prioritises which areas need to be protected to ensure a sustainable future and support tourism. This plan is implemented, using a range of innovative tools in partnership, with: SANParks (national authority) and CapeNature (provincial authority). The next three slides give examples of key projects. The Cape Town Experience 8
NATURAL ASSETS: DASSENBERG COASTAL CATCHMENT PARTNERSHIP (DCCP) Creating a large conservation area in the north of the City and supporting local tourism by Conserving critical ecological infrastructure (aquifer potable water) Unlocking socio-economic opportunities Ensuring the protection of a climate change adaptation and mitigation corridor Protecting and promoting the incredible natural and cultural heritage Partnership with TNC to develop Water Fund to secure aquifer and create jobs. The Cape Town Experience 9
NATURAL ASSETS: RAMSAR STATUS The proclamation of the False Bay Nature Reserve as a Ramsar site in February 2015 is an important milestone. The False Bay Nature Reserve is becoming a destination for international bird watchers. The Cape Town Experience 10
NATURAL ASSETS: PROTECTION OF CHACMA BABOON In the past there were many incidences of conflicts between baboons and tourists. Since 2012, Cape Town minimised this conflict and kept baboons out of the urban area for on average for 98% of the time. Baboons are protected and citizens and tourists are safer This programme also creates jobs and ensures extensive skills development of staff. There are over 500 baboons frequenting the southern Cape Peninsula, a popular tourism destination. The Cape Town Experience 11
SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT
SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT: GREEN ECOMOMY Job Creation via Expanded Public Works Programmes (EPWP) is a fundamental part of uplifting local communities as well as maintaining our natural assets. In last financial year on the Biodiversity Network: 156,796 person days of temporary employment 2,873 job opportunities were created. Training is aligned to the numerous formal skills development programmes undertaken by the City and its partners. The Cape Town Experience 13
PARTNERSHIPS TO ENHANCE TOURISM EXPERIENCE
PARTNERSHIPS: TABLE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK Table Mountain, managed by SANParks, is Cape Town s Global Brand. The Park on average has 4 million visitors per year. Cape Town works closely with SANParks - Together building a world class National Park. The Source to the Sea, one partnership project, links the National Park to a Municipal Nature Reserve. The Cape Town Experience 15
PARTNERSHIPS: SOURCE TO SEA The pilot corridors connect Table Mountain National Park, a nationally protected area, to Zandvlei, an important estuary and CCT protected area. Historically, rivers in Cape Town have been treated as a means to an end. Project represents a paradigm shift for urban river management in Cape Town: encourages an ecosystems-based approach. Enhance tourism opportunities. To maximise urban recreational spaces, restore degraded natural and open space corridors for healthy ecosystems, develop eco-heritage, educational, recreational and tourism opportunities and provide short and long-term local employment opportunities. The Cape Town Experience 16
Thank You For queries contact Johannes.VanDerMerwe@capetown.gov.za