Johannesburg — THE Eastern Cape is on track to become a tourist hot spot after securing significant investments running into millions of rand, which have generated jobs and economic growth opportunities in the past year.

Eastern Cape Development Corporation tourism sector specialist Lucky Tshayiviti said yesterday the most prominent of these investments was the newly unveiled luxurious Radisson Blu hotel in Port Elizabeth.

Arab investors, Dubai World Africa, have also bought a major shareholding in the world- renowned Shamwari Game Reserve.

The reserve has hosted prominent personalities such as golf legend Tiger Woods and film star John Travolta. The Arabs have brought in modern infrastructure and beautified the area.

"The corporation is also involved in a cable car project in Port St Johns, which will cost an estimated R120m. The cable car, modelled along the Table Mountain concept, will ferry tourists from the town to the mountain which has a beautiful view of the sea and biodiversity," Tshayiviti said.

He said the Port St Johns Municipality anticipated that the project would increase the volume of tourists and create jobs.

"A feasibility study has been completed and the Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs is being lobbied for additional infrastructure finance."

The corporation advised the municipality on potential investors for the project and the type of support it can expect to receive from itself , the government and the private sector.

The municipality was in a process of securing funding having made applications to the department . The municipality had also made funds available from its i ntegrated d evelopment p lan for the project.

"These investments have led to the corporation developing a tourism-sector investment plan for the Eastern Cape.

"The plan will serve as a comprehensive tool to guide tourism investment in the province. It is currently under way and is due for completion in mid-October," Tshayiviti said.

He said the plan examined national and regional trends in tourism while identifying international and African markets in which the province can secure tourism investments.

The corporation had identified the Arab region, particularly the United Arab Emirates, as a high priority area in attracting tourism investments, followed by central Europe. It was also planning a mission to the Emirates.