| November 08, 2008 |
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 PE‘s attraction as holiday destination skin-deep? Melody Brandon WEEKEND POST REPORTER brandonm@avusa.co.za PORT Elizabeth has been named as one of the 50 most “authentic holiday destinations” in the world. And if you are wondering what that means, well – its citizens “feel comfortable in their own skin”. And PE‘s status as a holiday destination deserving of mention may come as a surprise to its namesakes in the Caribbean and in New Jersey, in the US, whose inhabitants, it seems, have never heard of the vastly bigger centre on the tip of Africa. A judge in an international travel magazine‘s listing of “authentic” destinations, Harold Goodwin, who is professor of responsible tourism at Leeds Metropolitan University in the UK, said: “This (PE) is a South African city with diverse cultures, which isn‘t dominated by tourists, whether domestic or international.” Travel writer Mark Jones added: “An authentic destination is somewhere that is comfortable in its own skin, how ever many outsiders visit.” But even with such recognition, PE‘s distant counterparts do not appear to know it exists. “I have never heard of a Port Elizabeth in South Africa. Do you have internet there?” asked Linda Costello from the Port Elizabeth municipality in New Jersey. According to Costello, their Port Elizabeth‘s population totals a mere 650 – a minute fraction of the Eastern Cape city‘s 1,2 million-plus. The New Jersey town came to early prominence soon after 1778 as an industrial centre and later, as one of the state‘s federally-designated ports. In the Caribbean, Port Elizabeth is the island capital of Bequia, a tropical paradise which the French laid claim to in 1664. The total population is about 2000 and the native population is primarily a mixture of people of African, Scottish and Carib-Indian descent. “I had no idea there is a Port Elizabeth in South Africa,” said guesthouse owner Betty Fredrick, who has been living in her Port Elizabeth for 30 years. “I don‘t think many people here know that. I don‘t think we have ever had any South African tourists. “Our Port Elizabeth is beautiful – you should come visit sometime.”
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Pikoli report bad for Mbeki Reports yesterday that suspended National Director of Public Prosecutions, Vusi Pikoli, is likely to be reinstated following an official inquiry are yet another blow to former President Thabo Mbeki. Pikoli was suspended by Mbeki last year, ostensibly for a breakdown in his relationship with the justice minister, Brigitte Mabandla. However, it is widely believed by analysts and opposition politicians that the reason for the suspension was because Pikoli had obtained an arrest warrant for then police chief Jackie Selebi, who is a close ally of Mbeki‘s.... 
Alternative treatments gaining in popularity Melody Brandon IT MAY not be everyone‘s cup of tea, but the idea of alternative medicines and treatment has gained popularity in the Eastern Cape, with many people looking for new options for health and wellbeing. “I think one would be amazed at just how many people in the Eastern Cape do opt for alternative therapies, no matter what their spiritual or religious beliefs are,” said Dominique Platt, who started the Alternuts in St Francis Bay a few years ago.... 
Umlilo face battle of the giantkillers Chumani Bambani WEEKEND POST REPORTER BAY United will be out to attempt to maintain their fairytale run in the Telkom Knockout Cup when they battle it out with Free State Stars at the Charles Mopeli Stadium in QwaQwa this afternoon for a place in the last eight of the tournament... 
GM signs big deal with CDC Bob Kernohan BUSINESS EDITOR kernohanb@avusa.co.zaA MAJOR Mandela Bay company yesterday indicated its continuing confidence in the city despite tough economic challenges by signing a long-term multi-million rand deal to build and operate a sub-Saharan Africa logistics hub in the metro.... 
Des and Dawn going down Memory Lane ARTS CORRESPONDENT THE Eastern and Southern Cape can prepare for a double bill from veteran showbiz duo Des and Dawn Lindberg as they tour the regions this month and early December.... |
