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George Positions Itself as a Regional Alternative to Major Metros for World-Class Events
Municipality invites national and international organisers as it continues to invest strategically in events to drive economic growth

George, Wilderness and Uniondale Tourism under the umbrella of George Municipality, is positioning George as a competitive regional alternative to South Africa’s major metropolitan centres by inviting national and international event companies, professional conference organisers, industry institutions and event innovators to consider the city as a preferred destination for business events, meetings and conferences, exhibitions, festivals, sporting events, and other large-scale gatherings during the 2026/27 financial year.

As one of South Africa’s fastest-growing cities and the business hub of the Garden Route, George is deliberately leveraging its events programme as an economic development strategy. The city combines strategic accessibility, established infrastructure, high-quality venues and coordinated municipal support, offering organisers a viable and attractive alternative to hosting events in larger metropolitan areas.
This strategic approach is reinforced by an annual municipal contribution of R1 million towards fostering and supporting events, which reflects a long-standing commitment by the municipality over several years to growing the visitor economy, attracting overnight visitors, and supporting local businesses and service providers across George, Wilderness and Uniondale.

“George has the infrastructure, experience, and collaborative approach required to successfully host events of national and international standing,” says Joan Shaw, Tourism Manager. “By continuing to invest in events and actively partnering with organisers, we are positioning George as a competitive regional host city that delivers real economic impact while offering an exceptional event experience.”
“George continues to invest strategically in events because we have seen the tangible economic and social returns over a number of years,” says Executive Mayor Browen Johnson. “Well-planned events drive visitor spend, support local jobs and small businesses, and position our city and the wider Garden Route as a competitive destination beyond the major metros. This call is about building long-term partnerships that deliver real value for our communities and our economy.”

With strategic accessibility, event-ready infrastructure and a supportive municipal environment, George offers a purpose-built platform for hosting successful events of varying scale and category.
Strategic accessibility
Conveniently located between Cape Town and Gqeberha, George is serviced by George Airport with multiple daily flights and is supported by excellent road networks, ensuring seamless access for delegates, participants, and suppliers.
 High-quality venues and facilities
The city offers a diverse range of event-ready venues, including modern conference facilities, multi-purpose halls, and scenic outdoor locations capable of hosting events of varying scale and category.
 Strong tourism and business sector
Backed by a stable municipal environment and a well-established hospitality and services sector, George continues to expand its tourism and business offerings, providing organisers with reliable, high-quality support and memorable visitor experiences.
 Streamlined event compliance
George Municipality offers a coordinated, single-window approach to event approvals, enabling organisers to efficiently access safety services, traffic and crowd management, waste services, emergency coordination, venue support and regulatory guidance, reducing complexity and planning risk.

Funding and Partnership Opportunities
George Municipality is committed to positioning the city as a premier events destination. Event organisers, institutions, and industry bodies are invited to explore partnership opportunities with the municipality to bring world-class events to the Garden Route. For the 2026/27 financial year, covering events taking place between July 2026 and June 2027 across George, Wilderness and Uniondale, the municipality invites proposals for events that contribute to tourism growth, local economic development and increased overnight visitor stays, with a strong emphasis on the use of local suppliers and services.

Qualifying event organisers may be considered for financial contributions drawn from the municipality’s annual events allocation, which has been in place for several years, together with marketing support, logistical assistance and compliance facilitation, subject to municipal criteria and available resources. Events supported through the municipal events programme have consistently delivered measurable economic impact by generating visitor spend, sustaining jobs in the tourism and services sector, and driving demand for local suppliers across the region.

This initiative presents an opportunity to co-create flagship and anchor events for inclusion in the city’s annual events calendar, strengthening George’s positioning as a regional events hub beyond the major metros.

How to Apply
Interested organisers must complete the official online application form and submit all required supporting documentation. Access the application form via the link below.
Compulsory supporting documents include:
• A detailed event proposal
• Event track record (previous reports and organiser CV)
• Financial statements (preferably audited)
• Organisation registration documents
• Endorsement letter(s)
• Proof of venue reservation
Applications close on 22 February 2026. Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.

Apply here: zurl.co/hE3Pb
For enquiries or discussions, please contact Joan Shaw, George Municipality Tourism Manager jshaw@george.gov.za +27 44 801 9295

BOILERPLATE
About George
Nestled in the heart of South Africa’s Western Cape, George is the vibrant hub of the spectacular Garden Route. Stretching from Herold’s Bay to Wilderness and Uniondale, George boast breathtaking natural beauty, from sparkling oceans and majestic mountains to lush forests and rolling farmlands. It’s a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Renowned for its worldclass golf courses, golden beaches, rich history, and thriving arts and culture scene, George offers unforgettable dining experiences, exhilarating trails, and adventure-filled activities. Discover all that George has to offer at visitgeorge.co.za George, naturally.

Surfing: World Surf League x Kody McGregor – worldsurfleague.com

Symphonia National Band and Orchestra Festival x Gerhard Bouwer Photography

Mountain Ultra Trail by UTMB 2025

George Old Car Show

George Municipality invites event organisers operating across the municipal footprint to attend the annual Events Compliance and Support Workshop on Wednesday, 11 February 2026, from 08:00 to 13:00 (registration from 08:00 to 08:30). The workshop will be hosted at the George Municipality Town Hall, Conference Room, 71 York Street, George.

Presented by George, Wilderness and Uniondale Tourism, the workshop aims to empower both established and emerging event organisers by simplifying municipal processes, clarifying compliance requirements and highlighting the support available to help events succeed. It will also highlight available advertising opportunities and potential event funding partnerships across the municipal and tourism environment.

The workshop is designed to provide practical guidance to both established and emerging event organisers, helping to ensure that events are compliant, well-managed and safe, well planned and welcoming for residents and visitors, while contributing positively to the local economy and visitor experience.

“Events play a vital role in stimulating tourism, supporting local businesses and activating our towns and communities,” says Joan Shaw, Manager at George, Wilderness and Uniondale Tourism. “This workshop is about working with organisers – removing uncertainty around compliance, sharing practical tools, and connecting people with the right municipal and tourism partners to help their events grow and thrive.”

The workshop will also provide direct access to municipal officials and tourism representatives, giving organisers the opportunity to ask questions, engage with key stakeholders and gain clarity on planning requirements early in the event process.

The workshop programme will cover a wide range of essential topics, including:
• Online event application processes and population certificates
• Noise exemption requirements
• Traffic control and safety planning
• The use of municipal open spaces, beaches, sports facilities and community halls
• Health and safety permits for food stalls
• Electricity and waste management services
• Building control and outdoor advertising regulations
• Town planning requirements and land use rights
• Tourism office marketing support and promotional opportunities
• Event posters and banner regulations
• Event funding partnerships

Event organisers are strongly encouraged to attend and register by no later than Monday, 09 February 2026 via the online registration form available at zurl.co/CBr7O

Photograph for illustration purposes only.

George Municipality recognises that backyard dwellings provide important and affordable accommodation for many residents. The Municipality is taking practical steps to ensure an enabling environment and improve living conditions for backyard households, while ensuring safety and compliance with national legislation.

Backyard housing is formally recognised in the Municipality’s long-term planning framework since 2023, and a Backyard Housing Strategy was adopted by MAYCO in February 2025. This strategy enables backyard dwellings to receive their own prepaid electricity meters subject to certain conditions. Having a direct electricity supply improves safety, reduces fire risks linked to illegal connections, allows residents to manage and budget their electricity use, and enables qualifying indigent households to access free basic electricity directly from the Municipality. A direct electricity connection also allows backyard dwellers to install security systems, purchase electricity independently of the main house, and benefit from a guaranteed safe installation certified through a Certificate of Compliance (CoC).

In areas with high indigent levels, backyard dwellings are common. Rezoning to Single Residential Zone III allows compliant structures to be approved through a building plan only, without further land-use applications.Property owners may construct a second dwelling of up to 175m² without additional land-use approval and may apply to develop small rental units, subject to approval.

Provision of standardised building plans for all backyard dwellings is not practical as each property has unique characteristics to which the structure must adapt. National law requires that building plans are prepared and submitted by registered architects or draftspersons. The Municipality is also legally prohibited from preparing plans for private properties due to conflict-of-interest rules. The Municipality is working to make it easier and more affordable for residents to build safe, legal backyard dwellings. We have already updated our land use planning rules to better support this and plan to work with the Western Cape Department of Infrastructure to develop adaptable, cost effective standard building plans. These pro forma plans would help property owners save money and speed up the building plan approval process.

The Thembalethu Overlay Zone is being implemented as a pilot project that makes it easier and cheaper for property owners to formalise development. It allows flats and small rental units to be approved without a rezoning application, helping properties move from informal to formal structures at a lower cost.
Public participation has been concluded, and the overlay zone will be tabled to Council for adoption. Together, Single Residential Zone III and the Overlay Zone recognise existing informal housing and make it easier to develop more formal homes and rental units more quickly

In addition, the Emergency Housing Policy and Housing Allocation Policy have been reviewed to better support backyard households in need. Community registration drives and housing outreach programmes are conducted throughout the year and will be expanded to additional areas.

George Municipality remains committed to improving living conditions in a responsible and sustainable manner and will continue working with the Western Cape Department of Infrastructure and local communities as these measures are expanded. The safety and dignity of our communities are among the highest priorities, and the implementation of interventions will not be done haphazardly, but with due regard for the sustainability of the solutions.

George Municipality’s Internal Audit Department is proud to announce the launch of a year-long Internal Audit Awareness Campaign, reinforcing the message that assurance, governance, and risk management are not once-off events, but continuous responsibilities.

Globally, the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) designates May as Internal Audit Awareness Month, during which internal auditors are encouraged to promote awareness of the profession and its value. While George Municipality fully supports and will continue to acknowledge this global initiative, the Internal Audit Department has resolved to extend awareness beyond a single month.

“While Internal Audit Awareness Month is celebrated globally in May, the Internal Audit Department of George Municipality believes that awareness should not be limited to one month but should be continuous throughout the year.”

The campaign, titled “Internal Audit Awareness – Every Month”, aims to embed a clearer understanding of Internal Audit’s role across all directorates, emphasising that Internal Audit is:

• An independent and objective assurance and advisory function.
• A partner in strengthening governance, risk management, and internal controls; and
• A contributor to service delivery improvement and accountability.

Through monthly themed engagements, information sharing, and practical interactions, the Internal Audit Department will highlight how Internal Audit adds value, supports management, and assists Council and Audit Committee in fulfilling their oversight responsibilities.

This initiative aligns with:
• The Global Internal Audit Standards (GIAS);
• The Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA);
• King Code principles on governance; and
• The municipality’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Internal Audit kicked off the Awareness Campaign with one-on-one engagement with all Municipal Directors. The purpose of the sessions was to engage with the Directors on key priorities, risks, and governance matters for the year ahead, and to identify areas where Internal Audit can provide assurance or advisory support.

George Municipality invites management, employees, and stakeholders to actively participate in this campaign and engage with Internal Audit throughout the year—not only in May, but every month.

See below video link
https://youtu.be/iVVFVQDq8NI