NEWS RELEASE                                                                                         17 September 2002

CITY OF CAPE TOWN AND SA NAVY TO DEVELOP GORDON’S BAY

A joint forum between the City of Cape Town and the S A Navy is to be established in Gordon’s Bay following the unqualified success of their strong and mutually beneficial relationship in Simon’s Town.

Councillor Kent Morkel, Executive Councillor for Economic Development, Tourism and Property Management, says the Simon’s Town Forum has contributed greatly to the ability of the town to attract and absorb large numbers of tourists.

“The S A Navy has played a huge role in developing Simon’s Town for tourism - Navy Week is a good example - and I believe the same relationship in Gordon’s Bay will also work wonders for that area,” he said.

The Simon’s Town Forum was established in 1998 with the aims of

 · promoting the interests of the town ·  enhancing the relationship between the Navy and the City of Cape Town

· promoting the Navy and its facilities for tourism

· enhancing the town’s image as a tourist destination and

· exchanging ideas and expertise

Some of the successes of the Forum are

· the Navy’s assistance with tourism issues, such as parking for buses

· the City of Cape Town’s ability to help with expertise in service delivery

· opportunities for the City of Cape Town to participate in planning options on vacated Naval land

· the Navy’s assistance in disaster management, including Ukuvuka Firestop and liaison with the Cape Peninsula National Park

· the City of Cape Town’s assistance to the Navy in issues requiring public participation

· the ability of the Navy to assist in the hosting of dignitaries

· expansion of the commercial use of the Naval Dockyard

“Due to these and other successes, it was logical to extend the relationship to Gordon’s Bay, where the Navy also has offices and facilities,” Councillor Morkel said.

“The new forum will be based on the successful Simon’s Town model, and I believe Gordon’s Bay will soon see the fruits of our successful and growing relationship which is doing a lot for tourism in particular,” he said.

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