Mossel Bay’s Louis Harris wins Minister’s Award
26. Feb, 2009
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Louis Harris – the man who restructured Mossel Bay Tourism and is now the town’s official coordinator for the 2010 FIFA World Cup – has won a special award from the Western Cape’s Minister of Finance and Tourism.
Candidates for the award were judged on their outstanding contribution to the promotion of tourism in the Province; the extent of publicity they generated for tourism; the uniqueness and value of their contribution; the inspiration they provided and the example they set for the broader community; and their environmental management ethics and their actions in this regard.
The Awards were presented in Cape Town on Wednesday night, but Mr Harris wasn’t there to receive the accolade – he was in South America for high-level talks aimed at increasing tourism to Mossel Bay and the Province as a whole.
Mossel Bay Tourism’s Chairman, Neels Zietsman – who nominated Mr Harris – accepted the award on his behalf and said that he delighted but not surprised that Mr Harris had won.
“Louis Harris is an incredibly hard worker and a remarkable administrator, marketer and entrepreneur who has improved the lives of many people in Mossel Bay and throughout South Africa, and we consider ourselves incredibly lucky to have him on our team.
“He almost single-handedly turned Mossel Bay Tourism around when it faltered in 2005, and since his appointment as our 2010 coordinator he’s brought his usual strategic genius and incredible energy to making sure that the town will feature prominently in the event.
“Even although we aren’t a host city and we won’t be seeing any of the games, Mossel Bay is the ideal base camp town, and we’re hoping that Louis’ input will ensure that one of the more prominent national teams settles here in 2010 – and hopefully it’ll be the winning team, of course.
“But whether or not we do become a base camp town, Louis has been successful in ensuring that the Eden District’s 2010 media hub will be established in Mossel Bay.
“This is typical of the kind of results that follow him wherever he goes.”
Members of the Mossel Bay Tourism team tried to contact Mr Harris on his cell phone in South America immediately after the awards were announced, but the service was unavailable – so it was only after downloading his e-mails much later in the day that he learned of his success.
In responding to the announcement, he wrote, “Obviously I am overwhelmed, but I’m also very grateful for the part which I have been able to play both in the past and now though my involvement in 2010.
“I’ve been involved in community work (if that’s what you can call it) for many years – initially as a councillor, later on in tourism and now with the 2010 event – and some of us do this voluntary and purely because we have a passion or a sense of responsibility towards the people.
“You don’t expect any thank yous for what you do – and sometimes you even wonder why you do it at all! But when a day like this comes along and you receive such great news it propels you into the next phase and helps you to carry on and make a further contribution.
“This is the greatest reward I have received in all my time of rendering service to the people.
“The self satisfaction comes when we achieve something or meet the milestones – it comes when you can sense that you have made a change for the better!
“But nothing can be done without the involvement of other people – that team spirit I always talk about and which I believe you need in order to meet those milestones which sometimes feel far away.”
Speaking for his board and the members and staff of Mossel Bay Tourism, Mr Zietsman thanked the Provincial Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Garth Strachan, for endorsing the company’s belief in Louis Harris.
“It’s going to be both an honour and a pleasure for me to pass this Award on to him on your behalf,” he said.
My name is Muzi Mohale a full-time travel blogger, your host at Travelwires.com responsible for all editorial on this blog. I blog about the travel and tourism industry in Africa. Apart from blogging about tourism, I also run 
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