Mpumalanga Tourism Parks Agency best in keeping tourists safe in Mpumalanga

The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) received the best practices in tourism award at the regular meeting of the priority committee for tourist safety.

MTPA got the award for having a proven track record for best practices in the safety and security of tourists in Mpumalanga.

The regional chairman of the organisation in southern Mpumalanga, Mr Athol Stark, spoke on behalf of Highveld Tourism Mpumalanga and complimented the MTPA on consistently showing best practices in tourist safety in the province.

“This safety system has been operational for more than 10 years in the province and has a proven and credible track record of assistance to tourists in distress in the province,” Mr Stark said.

Mr Stark added the committee has also done excellent work in training and sensitising police officials from the many police stations in the region in the correct treatment of tourists in distress and has created a leading edge in successfully managing this aspect of tourism.

He pointed out there is an enormous amount of goodwill created when South Africans help foreign tourists who are in distress while they are on holiday in the country where there is an unplanned negative occurrence which could potentially ruin their holiday.

During the handing over of the certificate, a representative of MTPA, Ms Lindiwe Mthombeni, was also treated to a blanket welcome ceremony which tourists normally receive when they arrive on a tour of the Highveld Heritage route, an African way of welcoming tourists to the region.

The Highveld committee thanked their many sponsors who have made it possible to create a working and training environment that has brought such recognition over the years because of their dedication in this aspect of tourism.