By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Robben Island Museum’s (RIM) newest tour package, the walking tour, is not designed to exclude South Africans, but rather offers an alternative way to experience the rich historic tapestry that maps the journey of South Africa’s liberation struggle.
“In the current economic climate, striking a balance between offering value for money and ensuring short-term sustainability is understandably challenging. While the systematic revival of the tourism industry is gaining momentum, as more countries are opening their borders to international travel, the road to economic recovery is long. As such we need to be agile in our response to the market and adapt accordingly,” said Khensani Maluleke, RIM Council Chairperson.
Since the start of the pandemic, which has resulted in greatly reduced visitor numbers to RIM and, consequently, reduced turnover, the management of RIM has explored new income generating streams which will sustain RIM as a going concern, protect the jobs of the workers (which is of paramount importance), maintain stability at RIM and enable RIM to continue to fulfil its mandate and obligations to popularise both South Africa’s painful history during the colonial and apartheid eras and our long walk to freedom through the sacrifices made by countless numbers of people during our struggle. It is in this context that the idea of a walking tour was conceptualised.
In addition to the standard tours by bus around the Island, the walking tour covers more sites. During this tour, visitors will see eight (8) historic sites, including the Murray’s Bay Harbour Exhibition, the Visitor Centre Complex, the Land of Banishment for Xhosa Chiefs, the Ou Tronk Exhibition, the Blue Stone Quarry, the World War II Precinct, the Agricultural Precinct, the Lime Stone Quarry, and the Maximum Security Prison.
Against the backdrop of the economic onslaught of COVID-19 on the global tourism industry, RIM has had to re-evaluate its offerings and find ways to improve the visitor experience, particularly to attract repeat visitors in the domestic market. The Walking Tours will offer tourists a new and exciting option, while also offering people who have already experienced standard tours a chance to learn more about RIM’s rich heritage.
“We are not deaf to increasing public sentiment that the walking tour is beyond the reach of the locals. A comparative study was done with other similar offerings in the tourism space. This new tour, including the cost thereof, is a pilot. We have already seen a positive uptake and will evaluate and amend our product and pricing strategy over time,” said Maluleke.
As a responsible public entity, RIM prioritises stakeholder engagement in the evaluation and development of its offerings to visitors, both local and international. The Ex Political Prisoners Association (EPPA) is a key stakeholder who is regularly engaged and consulted in operational and strategic matters affecting RIM.
“The allegation, therefore in a recent media report by EPPA’s Mpho Masemola, that the walking tour was “stolen” from him after a presentation was made to RIM last year, is disingenuous and disappointing. This offering was conceptualised by RIM in 2015 and has been work-in-progress ever since. We will continue to engage EPPA and other stakeholders in this regard, in the quest for a sustainable tourism operation,” concluded Maluleke.