Bird project to attract over 40 000 tourists and create 750 jobs. (17 November, 1998)

The Western Cape government and the private sector have jointly undertaken a bird conservation project that promises to attract hordes of local and overseas tourists to the West Coast, and create 750 jobs for the unemployed residents in the small fishing town, African Eye News Service reports.

Cape Nature Conservation recently built a Gannet Observatory from where tourists can view gannet birds, HartlaubÆs gulls, African penguins, whitebreasted cormorants and Cape fur seals on the shore. "We want to conserve these bird species and uplift the economy of the residents through ecotourism," said bird specialist at Cape Nature Conservation, Dr Tony Williams, at the opening of the observatory at the weekend. "The town will get a lot of money from tourists who come to look at the birds, stay a few days in hotels and buy souvenirs before returning to their countries," he added.

The birds attract 40 000 tourists in one year, but, said Williams, the number can be doubled if more funds for development is made available. Meanwhile, Western Cape MEC for Environment, Kobus Meiring, said after the opening of the observatory that five organisations have recently shown interest in investing in the "best bird ecotourism attraction". Another patron of the project, West Coast Investment Initiative, intends to keep the Lamberts Bay Bird Island as "wild as possible". "That is what attracts tourists to the bay, they enjoy looking at the birds living in a natural way," said project manager Dr Laurine Platzky.
News article provided by African Eye News Service