John Badenhorst, SABAA’s Media Liaison for the Games reminds us how sport fishing
impacts our economy!
He said, “In South Africa alone, the purely recreational angler generates a staggering
financial turnover in the tackle and fishing industry.
According to a recent survey, basic fishing tackle and supplies for the recreational angler
generates R24-Billion every single year. This does not include PRO anglers who spend a
vast amount more on tackle, boats, electronics etc.
In October 2017, South Africa hosted the 13th Annual Black Bass World Championships
and this week-long event generated a vast amount of foreign currency as visiting anglers
booked accommodation, enjoyed meals, shopping and more. Boat hire and sight-seeing
added even more revenue, benefitting our sport, our boating industry and the economy.
Spectatorship has improved with live video streaming and real time video uploads becoming
the norm instead of the exception. This has opened new avenues for prospective sponsors
and advertisers to become associated with this industry and drawing greater spectator
presence at events being hosted here in South Africa.Not only is South Africa proving itself
as a friendly destination to anglers from around the world, we’ve also shown that we have
the drive and the infrastructure to host such events both now and in the future.”