KUGOMPO CITY– The Eastern Cape has officially launched Tourism Month 2026 at Asante Estate in KuGompo City on 1st September 2026, with the provincial government calling for greater use of digital technology to grow tourism, create jobs and expand economic opportunities for local communities.
While delivering the keynote address at the provincial Tourism Month launch, Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT) MEC Nonkqubela Pieters said tourism should be viewed as more than a way of promoting destinations, describing it as an important driver of economic development.
Pieters emphasised that the province has a wide range of tourism attractions, including the Wild Coast, Greater Addo region, Tsitsikamma, the Karoo, provincial nature reserves, cultural heritage sites and its coastline.
“We are not short of places worth visiting. Our challenge is to connect those places more effectively, improve the routes between them and make it easier for a potential traveller to move from interest to an actual booking,” Pieters said.
Eastern Cape Tourism Agency Communications Manager Oyanga Ngalika, said the launch provided an opportunity to showcase the province’s tourism offerings and encourage greater participation in the sector.
She said Tourism Month would feature activities and initiatives throughout September aimed at highlighting the province’s tourism products.
While Chairperson of Women in Tourism in the Eastern Cape, Weziwe Busakwe welcomed the recognition of women as important contributors to the tourism industry and provincial economy.
“We feel very honoured and humbled to be part of this Tourism Month launch. It gives us hope that we are recognised as tourism stakeholders who are making a meaningful contribution to the provincial economy and the tourism industry in the Eastern Cape,” Busakwe said.
She also called on residents and government to support local tourism businesses and encourage people to explore destinations within the province.However, the department highlighted the role of local crafters, saying the craft exhibition at the launch showed how tourism can connect visitors with locally produced goods while supporting creativity, culture and economic activity.
The MEC also urged tourism businesses to improve their online presence by ensuring that contact details, photographs, directions, prices and booking information are accurate and up to date.
She added that many travellers now use their mobile phones to search for destinations, compare prices, read reviews and make bookings.
Busakwe further highlighted the importance of digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) in helping tourism businesses remain competitive.
However, she stressed that technology must be supported by reliable basic services and good customer service.
“Digital acceleration and artificial intelligence should go hand in hand with basic services. Service quality is also important to us. We are not expecting perfection but we should be able to deliver what we promise,” she said.
Pieters also stressed that technology should support rather than replace the people who make tourism experiences meaningful.
Furthermore, municipalities have been urged to include tourism in their Local Economic Development (LED) plans, while tourism businesses have been encouraged to work together by creating packages that allow visitors to explore more destinations across the province.
In addition, founder of Rainbow Guesthouse and Tours in Kariega, Nonzwanga Thisani said residents should make an effort to explore and promote local destinations to preserve the province’s culture and creativity.
“When you do not explore, you are going to lose a lot of culture and creativity. We need to explore our province and appreciate what we have,” Thisani said.
Thisani also emphasised that empowering and educating women could contribute to the growth of the tourism sector as many skills needed in tourism are already part of women’s everyday lives.
The MEC encouraged Eastern Cape residents to visit local reserves, heritage sites, events and businesses during pTourism Month.
“Let Tourism Month 2026 be a period of action. Let us improve our information, strengthen our products, support our enterprises and take greater care of the places that make the Eastern Cape special,” Pieters said.
In addition, Ngalika added that tourism extends beyond accommodation and sightseeing, involving a wide range of businesses and services across the value chain.
The launch highlighted tourism as a key driver of economic growth, job creation and community development, with stakeholders calling on residents and visitors to explore the Eastern Cape, support local businesses and contribute to building a stronger and more inclusive tourism sector.
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