At a ground-breaking meeting in Middelburg on 22 March 2011, a new Local Tourism Organisation (LTO) was established for the joint marketing of Cradock and Middelburg.

 

Initiated by the Inxuba Yethemba Municipality in accordance with legislative requirements, the new organisation to be known as Cramtour will not only combine the previously separate marketing efforts of the two towns but will have an expanded brief to market the tourist potential of the entire Municipal district. 

 

Special attention will be given to the region between Cradock and Middelburg - notably the Fish River Valley - to provide a meaningful tourist link between the two towns. In addition to places of historical interest the marketing will cover the full range of tourist attractions on offer, including game farms, farm stays and B 'n B's. 

 

The Cramtour Executive Committee consisting of four representatives each from Cradock and Middelburg, and with two Municipal tourism officers in attendance, already has in place with the guidance of tourism consultants plans for a new, full-colour tourist guide and an exciting website, as also the upgrading of signage in the two towns.

A beef cattle farmers' day was held at Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute, Middelburg EC. From the left are Mr Buks Meyer (Middelburg), Mr Willie de Jager (Hofmeyr), Dr Loraine van den Berg (Specialist Scientist at Grootfontein) and Mr Johannes Retief (Chairperson of the Karoo Drakensberger Club). Dr Van den Berg is Acting Deputy Director: Crops and Pastures at Grootfontein and spoke about ecology and sustainable veld management. The event was attended by farmers from Middelburg and surrounding districts.