NUMBI – Although the launch of Tourism Month on Wednesday had a positive spin to it, the CEO of Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) Mr Jacques Modipane, warned that the number of attacks on visitors to the province remained a matter of concern.
He spoke at the launch of the event which took place at eNkambeni Tented Camp in the Kruger National Park (KNP).
Guests were also addressed by MEC for finance, economic development and tourism, Mr Eric Kholwane, who said tourism in Mpumalanga had always grown, but mainly at world-renowned spots such as the KNP, Bourke’s Luck and God’s Window. “A need to diversify products is required and most importantly a different life adventure. Tourists are looking at a new perspective of tourism which may be found right on the doorstep of nearby towns and communities,” Kholwane said.
He stressed that tourism remained one of the most crucial sectors for economic growth and job creation, hence statistics indicated that one out of 11 people who woke up every morning was employed in the sector. “This is one of the key sectors which the province has identified in the Mpumalanga Economic Growth and Development Path, as having the potential to create much-needed job opportunities. We have to exploit this ‘gold’ if we are to reduce poverty, unemployment and inequality, which are the triple challenges facing our administration,” he said.
“As government, we have taken a decision to focus on the heritage side of tourism within the next five years. We want to diversify our tourism-product portfolio by focusing on the liberation routes. Our communities will undoubtedly benefit from this development by way of job creation and social cohesion.”
This year’s Tourism Month is celebrated under the theme, “Tourism and community development”. “Our objective through this theme is to link tourism and community beneficiation. We want to develop communities, especially those living adjacent to main attractions. To this end, tourism-based developments will open up communities as attractions with definable desire to improve and achievable goals to work on,” Kholwane continued.
“What this achieves is a policy objective of creating a culture of inclusion in the industry, wherein communities are able to participate and share the wealth of the nature – thus breaking the old notion and perception of tourism as an exploiter of wealth where only the rich can benefit.
“The goal of tourism community-based projects is to achieve socioeconomic empowerment and a value-added experience for local and foreign visitors. It has already been jump-started in other countries where they mobilise communities into action to participate in broadening the scope of offerings in the industry.
This move can open new niches for Mpumalanga as it is rich in nature and culture in order to offer a unique experience to tourists.
“Thus with proper community, business, and tourism planning and with the integration of strategic planning to community empowerment and practice, it is possible that Mpumalanga can become a tourism phenomenon for the world to experience.”
Kholwane mentioned that eNkambeni Community Lodge was an example of tourism and community development projects. “I am particularly proud of the Mhaule and Mdluli communities which have ensured that they enter into a public-private partnership arrangement which will realise community beneficiation. Through such partnerships, we are certain that we will create the much-needed job opportunities in order to address the challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality.”
