A delegation from the Chinese destination marketing authority, China Travel Services, accompanied by representatives from that country’s top media houses, visited Nelson Mandela Bay during the period 12 – 16 October 2008.

The visit by the delegation was as a result of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism and China Travels Services, which focuses on establishing a mutual relationship regarding tourism promotion and exchange programmes, specifically tourism-related marketing and promotion programmes in order to motivate travelers from the respective countries and relevant cities to visit each other.

The aim of the visit was two-fold, firstly, to familiarize the delegation with the region and its attractions; as well as to shoot a promotional documentary about Nelson Mandela Bay that would showcase the area and encourage Chinese visitors to make Nelson Mandela Bay a preferred holiday destination. The documentary will in turn be broadcast on the Chinese Provincial Television Tourism Channel.

The MOU also encourages knowledge exchange on tourism promotion between the two institutions, including the exchange of promotional material in order to exchange programmes for students in co-operation with the relevant tourism training institutions and tourism personnel for the exchange of tourism knowledge and best practice in tourism promotion & development, research projects and programmes specifically geared towards learning about each other’s cultures and travel patterns.

Excited about the visit, Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism CEO, Fezekile Tshiwula said, “This is an excellent opportunity to showcase the destination and market our city and all its beautiful attractions to the Chinese community, as well as ensure that they have only positive things to say about Nelson Mandela Bay when they return home.”

“This visit will also assist in cementing the relationship that Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism has forged with the China Travel Services authority,” he added.

The signing of the MOU was as a result of the signing of a Sister-City agreement between the City of Ningbo in the People’s Republic of China and the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality in 2003.