The Cacadu District Municipality in the Eastern Cape has set aside R3 million to start a tourism company aimed at promoting the district as one of the ultimate tourist destinations in the country.

“This company will be led and managed by private individuals, with board members being independent. Ours will be to provide them with what we want to achieve and leave them to run the show,” said municipal manager Ted Pillay.

Pillay was addressing business leaders and the media in Sandton about business opportunities available in the municipality.

Cacadu, the largest district in the province, comprises nine local municipalities which stretch over an area of about 60000km².

The municipality also revealed its brand strategy and how this would profile tourism, trade and investment prospects.

“The heart of the Cacadu brand is underpinned by four unique characteristics of the district which include a wealth of stories and legends, potential growth and development opportunities in key sectors. It also includes a warm and celebrating community and the municipality’s pristine beauty,” said Pillay.

Pillay made a call to business to up investment in the district. He said one of the sectors with a potential to accelerate growth was agriculture.

“We already have a strong existing agricultural base from which to work as we produce mohair, making it the number one producer of mohair in the world. Our coastal belt produces more than 20% of milk in South Africa and we are known internationally for our exports in citrus and liquid,” he said.