WHY
We want to highlight the magnificence of the area and all the activities that this beautiful town and spectacular surroundings have to offer. The Walker Bay Outdoor Hermanus aims to promote Walker Bay and the surrounding areas to local and international sports and lifestyle enthusiasts as a world-class destination, with world class athletes that combines sporting and lifestyle tourism. In doing so the multi-day festival will raise the profile of the region and extend the tourism season so as to boost the local economy and promote community development.
The organizers hope to develop local interest, not only in sport, but also in conservation, ocean safety and preservation of historic landmarks by allowing local communities to see their town through the eyes of visitors from around the world and encouraging responsible interaction with the town’s natural treasures. We believe that by hosting a world-class, multi-discipline event, offering a wide variety of attractions for the whole family, Hermanus will claim its place among the top sports-tourism destinations in the world.
The pilot event in 2015 attracted hundreds of athletes from around the world and generated a noticeable increase in economic activity in the area. It was rolled out as a proof-of-concept and managed to create thousands of media impressions. Photos and video clips of the festival reached audiences in over 50 countries from Sweden to New Zealand. As the festival grows, it will become an incredibly effective means of raising the profile of the Overberg and Walker Bay region as a spectacular tourism destination for visitors from every corner of the globe.
