By Patrick Cull

Emfuleni, operators of the Boardwalk casino complex in Port Elizabeth, plans to construct a R175-million, five-star hotel and international conference centre if it is successful with its bid to have its licence renewed for a further 15 years.

The licence will be issued on August 24. The other bidder, a local business consortium, has proposed a R1,8-billion entertainment centre next to the harbour.

Also part of its R1-billion investment, Emfuleni intends to construct a “smoking casino”, restaurants, health spa and a “must- see-must-do” multimedia lake spectacular, according to bid documents that have been released for public comment.

The 3 000m² conference centre will have seating for 2 294 people and will be able to host international conferences, performances by top artists, trade shows as well as conventions and banquets.

The hotel will be built on the site of the existing Oriental Village that has “not proved to be a major drawcard” while the existing conference facility will be converted into the new “smoking casino” after the 2010 World Cup.

If the Emfuleni bid is successful, construction of the conference centre and parkade that will house close to 900 vehicles will start on January 25 next year and be finished by the end of November.

Building of the hotel will start on July 12 next year and be finished a little over a year later.

With the new investment, the total contribution to job creation by the Boardwalk will almost double from 4 386 in 2009 to 8 363 in 2025, while 5 054 direct and indirect work opportunities will be created during the construction phase.

Emfuleni says its contribution to provincial revenue will increase considerably, rising from R56-million in 2012 to R170,6-million by 2025, while its contribution to the national fiscus through various taxes will jump from R98,9-million to R436,6-million over the same period.

Cumulative contribution to GDP could amount to as much as R50,7- billion as a result of the additional investment, the company states, with 268 more people being employed, of which 175 will work at the new hotel.

Emfuleni points out that, if its bid is successful, there will also be positive spin-offs for the Fish River Sun, noting that it will enable it to continue to support rural development in that area through a R280-million subsidy over the 15-year period.

The company intends to invest R30-million at Fish River in upgrading the gold course and the complex‘s other facilities “in order to ensure it remains a major tourist icon”.

However, it warns, should it be unsuccessful in its bid “it is self-evident that the impact on the Fish River Sun, the surrounding area and its people would be catastrophic.

"In the absence of the Emfuleni subsidy, the Fish River Sun would cease to function in its current form.

"It would most likely be sold for the purposes of redevelopment and given the size of the subsidy it can be expected that there would be a significant loss of jobs.”

Source: The Herald