Is Makhanda a Destination or Just a Pitstop? A Community Dialogue Begins
Tuesday, 29th April 2025
Tourism in Makhanda is at a crossroads. With a rich cultural heritage, thriving academic institutions, and a growing interest in community-based experiences, the potential is enormous—yet questions linger. Are we truly a tourist destination or just a stopover?
As we step into a critical moment for local tourism development, Makana Tourism, in partnership with local media and stakeholders, is launching a community-wide conversation that aims to answer a simple but powerful question: Is Makhanda really a tourist destination—or just a convenient stopover?
These conversations first began at World Travel Market (WTM) Africa—a major business-to-business tourism event connecting African and international travel professionals. Walter Sisulu University was represented at the event, and it was there that we bumped into Dr Unathi Sonwabile Henama and his colleagues. This connection led to a deeper unpacking of these vital issues with Dr. Henama, a leading voice in tourism development. His insights challenge us to rethink our assumptions—seeing aging infrastructure as a catalyst for reinvention, unlocking the power of educational tourism, and emphasizing the importance of breaking down business silos in favor of cultural collaboration.
This blog post launches a multi-part community dialogue series designed to spark honest, inclusive conversations about the future of tourism in our region. The introductory session will take place on 8 May, hosted by Rhodes Music Radio (RMR), with Grocott’s Mail as a key media partner. Over several weeks, the dialogue will continue through articles and interviews—culminating in a final in-person session (subject to funding), where we’ll work toward a shared, solution-driven tourism blueprint.
Our aim is to involve all stakeholders—residents, entrepreneurs, educators, artists, churches, and even the private security industry, which covers a large geographic footprint and holds valuable insight.
Your voice matters. Whether you’re a homestay host, student, artist, business owner, or someone who simply loves this town, this is your invitation to help shape a more vibrant, inclusive tourism future for Makhanda.
Key Questions We’re Exploring:
- Is Makhanda thriving off educational tourism—or stuck in it?
- Can our crumbling infrastructure be turned into a catalyst for reinvention?
- Are local businesses collaborating—or quietly competing to the city’s detriment?
- What does the average resident understand about tourism’s ripple effect?
- And perhaps most importantly: What is the role of our local tourism office, and are we using it effectively?
A Few Highlights from Prof. Ramukumba’s Insight:
- Educational tourism is a blessing and a curse. Yes, long-term university-linked stays bring consistency, but they can mask the city's failure to diversify its tourism offerings. Festivals, cultural experiences, and niche markets like Mandarin-speaking tourists are all untapped.
- Being a stopover isn’t bad—it’s an opportunity. Whether it's petrol stations selling local biltong or the City offering the “cleanest restrooms on the N2,” we can become memorable. “Transit tourism” can lead to future bookings, traditions, and return visits.
- Infrastructure matters. You can’t build a thriving tourism industry on potholes and power cuts. But local citizens shouldn’t carry this burden alone—it’s time for political will and public-private planning.
- Homestays are the future if we make them meaningful. Forget just offering a bed—offer a story, a memory, and a connection. Marketing, social media presence, and basic hospitality skills are non-negotiable.
- Business unity is essential. Makhanda can’t afford a silo mentality anymore. If everyone markets on their own, we all lose. A united calendar, a shared platform, and joint marketing initiatives are key to survival and success.
What’s Next?
We’re inviting YOU—business owners, community members, educators, cultural organizers, local government reps, and more—to join an upcoming live community radio session in partnership with Grocott's Mail, where we’ll:
- Review Dr Unathi Sonwabile Henama’s suggestions
- Hear from private sector leaders
- Analyse real-world challenges
- Develop a collaborative action plan
- Launch a “Tourism Blueprint” for Makhanda’s future
This session will be broadcast via local community radio and supported by local newspapers and social platforms to ensure no voice is left out.
Pending funding, we hope to conclude the live community radio sessions with an in-person event—but if necessary, it will be streamed via Microsoft Teams to allow for broader participation, especially from our 'out-of-town' partners.
How You Can Get Involved:
- Share this blog post in your networks
- Submit your questions and ideas via local tourism forums
- Diarise the community radio sessions starting with 08 May 2025
- Nominate guest bloggers or share your own story of visiting or living in Makhanda or surrounding villages within the Makana region.
- Attend the upcoming in-person seminar (details below).
Coming Soon: “Past Tourist Features”
Each week, we’ll publish short reflections from past tourists, highlighting their experiences in and around Makhanda. These stories will help remind us of what makes this city memorable—and where we’re falling short.
Seminar Details (TBC)
Provisional Date: Before the start of the new financial year
Platform: In-person (Venue TBA) & Microsoft Teams
Host: Makana Tourism, in collaboration with local stakeholders
Guest Speakers: Tourism Development experts such as Prof. Takalani Ramukumba along with private tourism operators, alumni, and local business leaders
Want to Participate?
If you’re a tourism stakeholder, entrepreneur, homestay operator, or simply a passionate community member, we want your voice in this dialogue.
To confirm your interest or request more details, please reply to this post or email: info@grahamstown.co.za
Let’s stop treating Makhanda as a pitstop—and start building it into the thriving destination it truly can be.
