With some 300 000 tourists visiting Oudtshoorn annually, tourism remains the single biggest money-spinner for the town.
Says chairman of the Oudtshoorn Tourist Bureau, Danie Lategan: "We are blessed with just about every ingredient in the ideal tourist basket. Apart from the enduring magic of the prehistoric ostrich and the magnificent Cango Caves, Oudtshoorn offers the visitor a vast array of activities and amenities, from local Khoi-San and African culture to the extraordinary landscape of the Klein Karoo with its all year round inviting climate.
"Our mission is to make the visit of each and everyone as pleasant and memorable as possible and to this end the bureau is at hand to give visitors guidance on all their needs from handling general enquiries to making reservations and even taking complaints should they arise."
According to Lategan tourism generates around R300-million a year, which contributes about R100-million to the town's salary and wage bill. Events like the annual Klein Karoo National Arts Festival (KKNK) have given a tremendous cash boost to the local economy as well as creating a huge number of jobs during that period. "The Arts Festival is worth around R51-million, of which 80% stays in the region and has been a catalyst for significant developments in the hospitality business," he said.
There are around 70 guesthouses and B&B outfits plus top class restaurants and quality curio shops, as well as a strong retail sector and all the necessary infrastructure to cater for visitors needs.
The Bureau is run by a representative Executive Committee consisting of 10 members, six from the private sector elected by the members of the bureau and four from the local municipality while two sub-committees for marketing and development also operate within the bureau.