The Tourism sector has been identified as a key economic driver of the Eastern Cape. The Cacadu District Municipality has great tourism potential with the Camdeboo, Ndlambe, Kouga and Kou-Kamma Local Municipalities having particularly strong, established, tourism industries.

 

According to research conducted by the Cacadu District in 2007/08 it is calculated that the tourism industry currently contributes the following to the local economy:

·          R267 million in direct tourism spending

·          R680 million contribution to the GGP

·          In excess of R 1 billion total economic activity (i.e. total demand)

·          1,936 direct jobs

·          A total of 4,413 jobs in the broader economy (including the tourism industry)

·          Support to 294 SMMEs in both the tourism industry and the economy as a whole.

 

Based on the Cacadu Tourism Master Plan it is estimated that that 4.4 million people visited the Cacadu District in 2007/08 year of which just over 2% were foreign tourists. These tourists utilised the estimated 900 accommodation facilities located throughout the district which translated into 18 500 available beds. Over this period these accommodation establishments were estimated to have sold in excess of 1.1 million bed nights over the 2007/08 year, equating to an overall occupancy rate of 17%.

 

One of the most important attractions in the Cacadu District are the several malaria free Big Five game reserves. The topography of the region also attracts visitors who wish to visit the impressive Tsitsikamma Nature Reserve, Baviaanskloof and Sneeuberge. The region also has an impressive coastline and an array of water related and nature based tourism activities. Based on these attractions the Cacadu District Municipality has identified six niche tourism types. These are:

·          Heritage tourism

·          Nature-tourism

·          Events tourism (including edu-tourism, sports tourism)

·          Agri-tourism

·          Adventure tourism

·          Coastal and marine tourism

 

The Cacadu District is also well marketed as a premium game hunting destination and home to the Big Seven (the traditional Big Five game, pus whales and the Great White Sharks)

 

Key to the success of the tourism industry is the appropriate access to transport linkages such as the extensive national and regional network in the district as well as its close proximity to the Port Elizabeth and East London airports. The prevalence of this infrastructure makes the various tourism products available in Cacadu easily accessible to tourists.