The Association of Recerational Beach Users was formed to promote tourism within Umkhanykude district municipality with the prime focus on the Elephant Coast beaches as our draw card for domestic tourists. Our web site may be found here

This has become essential since the Government closed all beaches in South Africa to Motor vehicle traffic in terms of the National Environmental Management Act or NEMA. this may be found here and the first ROD or record of decision taken by DEAT may found here

Since the 4x4 ban has been enforced along the Elephant Coast domestic tourism has plumeted to unprecidented lows, and many bussinesses have closed their dooors and left Umkhanykude district Municipality. The local ARTS & CRAFTS industries which relied heavily on domestic tourism have taken a sever blow to their turn over with many one man and family businesses losing their economic oppoortunities and becoming indigent.

Many resorts such as Cape Vidal, Mapelana and the village of St. Lucia itself have lost considerable portions of their annual turn over, and this has been on the agenda at many high level meetings, but no results have been forth comming as the Minister is stead fast in his resolution to folow orders. Whose orders these are is debatable