Page 13 - KZN Business Sense 8.6

THE KZN SOUTH COAST
WINS BID TO HOST THE 2022
CONSERVATION SYMPOSIUM
We’re thrilled to announce the venues for this year’s
Conservation Symposium; Premier Resort Cutty Sark
and Dream Hotel Blue Marlin in Scottburgh.
ome to rich
biodiversity across
Hland and sea, the
KZN South Coast has been
chosen for The Conservation
Symposium which welcomes
environmentally focused
delegates from 31 October to
5 November. This is the first
time the KZN South Coast has
hosted the event, entrenching
the region as a top MICE and
events destination.
“We’re thrilled to announce
the venues for this year’s
Conservation Symposium;
Premier Resort Cutty Sark
and Dream Hotel Blue Marlin
in Scottburgh. Located just
1.4km from each other, these
venues will be the centre of
our Conservation Symposium,
allowing our attendees to
enjoy a slice of beautiful KZN
South Coast before, during
or after the symposium,”
commented event organiser,
Freyni du Toit.
The Conservation
Symposium is hosted by
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife
in partnership with the
University of KwaZulu-Natal,
WildOceans, WildTrust,
Endangered Wildlife Trust
(EWT), CapeNature, Nature
Environment and Wildlife
Filmmakers (NEWF) and
the Environmental Law
Association (ELA).
“We are so excited to
be welcoming some 250
delegates to The Conservation
Symposium which will be held
at The Premier Resort Cutty
Sark and Blue Marlin Hotel,”
commented Phelisa Mangcu,
CEO of South Coast Tourism
and Investment Enterprise
(SCTIE). “This serves the
dual purpose of highlighting
the KZN South Coast as a
key events destination, while
celebrating the amazing
conservation efforts and
environmental significance
of the region.”
Some of the KZN South
Coast’s ecologically significant profile events, SCTIE is welcoming
sites and events include: new visitors to the area while also
■ Three Marine Protected attracting new investment.
Areas at Aliwal Shoal, Protea To facilitate MICE events,
Banks and Trafalgar SCTIE launched the innovative
supporting a variety of Meeting Planner Guide at the
marine species with Aliwal Meetings Africa exhibition
Shoal home to a number of in Johannesburg earlier this
the highly-endangered year. This comprehensive
shortfin devil rays; guide is a one-stop directory
■ Six Blue Flag beaches – the for all business conferences,
highest number in the meetings, team building and
province – with two accommodation requirements.
It consists of a detailed list
honoured for 20 and 10 years of existing MICE venues,
of care; teambuilding activities on
■ Several nature reserves and offer, and relevant contact
game reserves home to information.
diverse wildlife and birdlife;
The Conservation Symposium,
which is a platform to facilitate
■ Two gorges - Oribi Gorge and the sharing of ideas and solutions
Umtamvuna Gorge - that to contemporary conservation
create an expansive biome issues in Africa, will open with
supporting sensitive natural
life; a welcome ceremony at the Blue
Marlin Hotel on Sunday, 30
■ The Red Desert, the world’s October. In between networking
smallest desert; and talks, delegates will also
■ The Mzamba Fossils and be hosted on various tours
Petrified Forest – trees which that showcase the KZN South
were washed downriver and Coast’s many eco-friendly and
deposited in the area millions sustainable initiatives.
of years ago with marine This will include a frogging tour
fossil beds exposed along of the wetlands from Crocworld
reefs near the Mzamba River; Conservation Centre and guided
■ The annual Sardine Run walks in nature reserves including
which is the planet’s greatest TC Robertson Nature Reserve
biomass migration; and and Vernon Crookes; snorkelling
■ The annual migration of in a Marine Protected Area; a
Humpback whales. hike along part of the Umzumbe
River Trail, a Green Flag Trail and
SCTIE, which is the tourism and viewing wild Cape Vultures at
investment arm of Ugu District the Oribi Vulture Viewing Hide
as well as a visit to Ntelezi Msani
Municipality in the KZN South Heritage Centre. 
Coast, is dedicated to promoting
economic growth through
innovation, investments and To find out more about The Conservation
Symposium, visit:
tourism. By hosting such high- www.conservationsymposium.com
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