PLETTENBERG BAY – The Plett Tourism Association has announced that with effect from the 1st March 2020, Marius Venter has been appointed as its Chief Executive Officer.

Venter, a philanthropist and former CEO of Tangem Limited (Tanzania) and CEO of Maison Gerard SA (Pty) Ltd, will succeed Peter Wallington (former Executive Chairman), who announced his resignation last year after seven years as head of Plett Tourism.
Bruce Richardson, Plett Tourism Association Board Chairman, said that the Board has appointed Venter with the expectation that he will take the Tourism Association to the next level in terms of establishing a largely private sector funded Association, marketing and innovation to enable the Association to achieve the aims and objectives that the Association has been striving to achieve including making a significant contribution towards the development of community tourism in order to create a more inclusive tourism industry, re-introducing festivals that have fallen off the tourism calendar owing to lack of funding and the introduction of additional festivals, attractions and events to increase tourist arrivals and reduce the impact of seasonality on the economy of the town. Since his arrival in Plettenberg Bay approximately 3 years ago, Marius has shown himself to be a committed and highly effective contributor to the welfare of the town including safety and security and combatting and rebuilding after the Plett/Knysna fires. In my experience, whatever Marius turns his mind to, he takes to a new level of efficiency and achievement and I believe that we can approach his tenure as CEO with a great deal of anticipation. He has a lot of exciting ideas and we look forward to their implementation under his leadership.”
“Venter brings both considerable business acumen and a great deal of highly successful marketing expertise along with fresh ideas and a great deal of love and passion for Plettenberg Bay as a town and tourism destination that will serve Plett Tourism Association well in building on its considerable successes to date and guide the association into the future. Having said this we need to appreciate that Marius is taking over the reins at a very difficult time as the Corona Virus scenario develops potentially making the immediate future full of imponderables and uncertainties. As a town we need highly competent and innovative leadership more than ever to face these challenges. I would urge each and every members of our community, whether within the tourism industry or otherwise, to collectively and enthusiastically support Marius in taking on this new challenge which is absolutely key to the future economy of the Bitou area and the development of our town” Richardson said.
Venter’s duties will include direct oversight management of an experienced and committed Plett Tourism team and strategic development to ensure effective sales, marketing and promotion of Plettenberg Bay as a premier and highly desirable destination. He will also work closely with municipal, provincial and government tourism affiliations and the business community.
Venter has more than 30 years of business experience, to mention but a few, six years with the brand and store development of the ‘R5 Shop’, five years with Tangem Limited (Tanzania) in mining industry and CEO of Self Heating Meals (Hong Kong) Limited
His experience in the tourism and hospitality industry includes his ownership of safari lodges in SA. He was appointed to the Plett Tourism Association board in 2019.
He now serves on the following boards: PBCPA Exco, Chairman of Wittedrift High School SGB, Board member with Adopt a Swimmer NGO, member of the Plettenberg Bay Rate Payers Association Exco, Board member of Plett Fire Fund and he serves on several boards around the world as a non-executive director.
According to the Plett Tourism Association, Venter will work on campaigns to increase private funding for the association. Venter will put initiatives in place to stimulate domestic and international travel to our area.