The Wilderness Ratepayers and Residents Association (WRRA) wants to make this coastal tourist destination an action packed adventure land. To succeed, they started a Wilderness Improvement Programme (WIP).

Inset: Mr Pieter Naude, business and tourism representative of the WRRA (right) speaking to Wilderness business owners at last week's meeting. With him is Mr Graham Sell, Chairperson of the WRRA. (Photo: Christo Vermaak)

"Too many people drive past Wilderness not knowing what this tourism destination offers them. We must give them a reason to turn into the village and experience our adventure land," Mr Pieter Naude, business and tourism representative of the WRRA said at a public meeting last Thursday.

"The recent announcement that Wilderness has received Blue Flag Status, already makes it a Five Star destination, but we are still confronted by a huge task which we must tackle bit by bit," Naude said. Some of the projects identified include putting up signs against the wall of the bridge next to the Caltex Garage, informing people of activities like hang gliding, rock climbing and a variety of water sports. The history of the town will also be displayed.

The car guards will be trained to help with the safety and security and they will be called Village Officers. Their job description will also include keeping the Village clean. Other projects include providing more parking space, the beautification of the N2 Highway running through Wilderness, building walkways in the old and the new Village, beautifying the Caltex Garage area and establishing a Tourism Association for Wilderness and a Wilderness Forum.

* Die Wildernis-belastingbetalers- en inwonersvereniging is besig om deur middel van 'n Wildernis-ontwikkelingsprojek die middedorp vir toeriste meer aanloklik te maak. Verskeie projekte is reeds geïdentifiseer, soos om meer parkering daar te stel, die motorwagte beter opleiding te gee en inligtingsborde op te sit waar toeriste inligting kan kry oor wat om in Wildernis te doen.

By Christo Vermaak