WHY
The focus of the festival is to highlight the magnificence of the area and all the activities that our beautiful towns and spectacular surroundings have to offer. The Walker Bay Outdoor Hermanus aims to promote Hermanus and the surrounding areas to local and international sports and lifestyle enthusiasts as a world-class destination for 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 organisers 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 country, if not 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 region as a spectacular tourism destination for visitors from every corner of the globe.
Looking ahead, we believe the Walker Bay Outdoor has the potential to become an important contributor to the economy of the entire region, attracting thousands of athletes and spectators to a world-class festival that focuses on showcasing local businesses, organisations and charities. In doing so, the festival will promote an awareness of the value of our natural assets and the importance of conservation efforts as well as the positive impact that sports can have on lives and communities.
