AN academic note was sounded at the beginning of Tourism Month in Buffalo City, with heated debate on the impact of tourism.

The debates, on Friday, 11 September were held between learners from various secondary schools in King William’s Town and East London.

Organised by the City's department of local economic development, tourism and rural development, working closely with the provincial department of education, the event tested the learners’ knowledge of tourism and local tourism sites.

The aim was to increase the knowledge of learners at schools that offered tourism as a subject.

The debate was held at the War Memorial at King William’s Town. Vuyani Mbata, the general manager of the local economic development directorate, explained that the idea of the forum was to promote conversation during the month.

“We’re hoping to learn something here today. We can probably take some of the ideas shared today, since there has been extensive research on the topics.”

Grade 10s debated the question “Can tourism contribute to economic growth, poverty alleviation and employment creation?” Grade 11s’ topic was “Should communities be encouraged to participate in tourism development?”

Learners were divided into districts and those from previously disadvantaged schools were mixed with those from more advantaged schools.

Among the dignitaries who attended were the portfolio head for local economic development, Sithembiso Tyilo; an Eastern Cape Tourism Board representative, Pheliswa Mosele; and others from the department of education.

Mosele described the partnership between Buffalo City, the department of education and the Eastern Cape Tourism Board that started in 2008 as a strong and blooming relationship.

Participating schools included East London’s Clarendon High School for Girls, John Bisseker Senior Secondary School, Ulwazi High School, Unathi High School, and from King William’s Town Kingsridge High School for Girls, Hector Peterson Senior Secondary School, Thembalabantu High School, Nosizwe High School and St Christopher’s High School.

The first prize in the Grade 10 category, a package tour worth R3 000 organised for a group of learners to visit tourist attractions around Buffalo City, was won by the debaters from King William’s Town, who opposed the topic.

The first prize in the Grade 11 category, a package tour worth R5 000, was won by the debaters from East London, who supported the topic.