On Tuesday, September 7, a family-friendly whale exhibition opened up at the Whale House Museum in Hermanus. The exhibition is one of eleven projects that’s supported by the Tourism Product Development Fund which was launched in 2020.
The Tourism Product Development Fund contributes almost R6 million to support new or existing tourism products and experiences, especially in the rural and coastal towns across the Western Cape.
Nestled near the harbour, the Whale House Museum has hosted a small, but steady flow of visitors for many years. Thanks to the funding provided by the Tourism Product Development, the museum has upgraded to becoming a more enthusiastic caterer. For the young and young at heart, it’s especially a delight with a new Whale House Mascot character guiding visitors through the entire exhibition alongside short “Did you know” messages.
The exhibit also features whale-related video games, a revamp of the whale sound exhibit and a large “build a whale” floor puzzle. The aim of this is to attract more families, especially in low season.
Tourism Product Development Fun has also helped in sustaining over 300 jobs and is one of many ways planned to work towards supporting the tourism sector, which took a hard knock due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During Tourism Month 2021, in addition to launching the exhibition at the Whale House Museum, another two other projects are set to launch on the West Coast that has been supported by the Tourism Product Development Fund.
These include a new and improved hospitality experience and purpose-built ‘Food from the Ancestors’ gastronomic experience at !Khwa ttu, a San culture and education centre, and a new kayaking experience for outdoor enthusiasts at the Cape Columbine Nature Reserve by the award-winning Gravity Adventures.
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If you are looking for ideas for your next visit to Cape Town and the Western Cape, then visit the Wesgro website where you can use one of their regional itineraries for inspiration: https://www.wesgro.co.za/travel/itineraries
Picture/s: Supplied / Unsplash