“United for Growth” – George, Wilderness and Uniondale Tourism Sector to Gather for Major Industry Conference 2026
George, Wilderness and Uniondale Tourism, the official Tourism Bureau of George Municipality, in collaboration with the Hawthorn Boutique Hotel in George, proudly announces the Tourism Stakeholders Conference 2026, taking place on Monday, 25 May 2026, from 09:00 to 16:30.
The conference will be hosted at the elegant Hawthorn Boutique Hotel in George, one of the region’s leading accommodation and conferencing destinations, providing the ideal setting for meaningful engagement, collaboration, and industry networking.
Held under the theme “United for Growth”, this year’s conference will bring together key players from across the tourism value chain to collaborate, share insights, and shape a unified vision for the future of tourism across the George municipal region.
The conference aims to strengthen partnerships between public- and private-sector stakeholders while addressing both the opportunities and challenges currently facing the industry. Through meaningful dialogue and strategic engagement, the event will explore ways to drive sustainable tourism development, enhance destination competitiveness, and unlock economic growth.
As part of George Municipality’s ongoing commitment to developing and supporting the local tourism economy, the conference will serve as a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, innovation, and forward-thinking solutions. Attendees can expect engaging discussions, strategic tourism updates, and valuable networking opportunities designed to inspire collaboration and action.
The conference programme will feature presentations and industry updates from a range of key tourism and economic development stakeholders, including George Airport, CapeNature, the George Joint Marketing Association (GJMA), and SEDFA. Topics will include airport developments and regional connectivity, tourism concession opportunities at the Outeniqua Nature Reserve, collaborative destination marketing initiatives such as “George Trails” and “Home of Golf Africa”, local grant funding and business support opportunities, as well as sustainability-focused tourism development.
George, Wilderness and Uniondale Tourism will also present an overview of the Tourism Bureau’s activities and achievements over the past financial year, including strategic partnerships, destination marketing campaigns, supported events, and key regional milestones. Attendees will further receive insights into upcoming projects and priorities, along with the latest available Garden Route tourism statistics and trends shaping the regional visitor economy.
“With tourism continuing to play a critical role in our local economy, this conference provides an important opportunity for the sector to come together, strengthen partnerships, and align around future growth opportunities,” said Joan Shaw, Tourism Manager for George, Wilderness and Uniondale Tourism. “We encourage general managers, sales and marketing managers, and owners of local tourism businesses such as accommodation establishments, attractions, tour operators, restaurants, activity providers, and related enterprises to attend and be part of the conversations shaping the future of tourism in our destination.”
With a strong focus on sustainability, innovation, collaboration, and resilience, the 2026 conference underscores the importance of a united tourism sector in building a thriving, competitive, and future-ready destination.
Attendees will also stand a chance to win various prizes during the event.
All stakeholders registered with George, Wilderness and Uniondale Tourism are invited to RSVP to attend the conference. Please note that, due to limited capacity, attendance is by confirmation only and will be confirmed via email.
RSVPs close on 20 May 2026, with confirmation emails to be issued by 21 May 2026.
To register your attendance, please complete the RSVP form here: https://zurl.co/WKfvu
For enquiries, please contact: Joan Shaw, Tourism Manager on 044 801 9295 or email: jshaw@george.gov.za