The Harrismith Marketing Bureau is a community-based organisation started in 1992 by the Harrismith Business Chamber. An executive committee governs the organisation with representatives from the local government, community, members and donors. It has three principle aims – promoting tourism, creating job opportunities and encouraging sustainable use of the environment.
The Bureau’s tourism initiatives include increasing awareness of the area as a tourism destination through signs, shows, press releases and brochures; developing tourism activities; involving local people in tourism; supporting the regional product owners and their efforts to increase tourism; and assisting with fundraising for new projects.
Job creation and development is addressed by encouraging tourism and communication and co-operation between role-players in the area while the Bureau works hard to create an awareness of responsible tourism among the local people and in so doing, encourage the optimal and sustainable use of the environment.
