Many opportunities for growth in local tourism sector
Despite the challenges faced in the tourism sector, Nkomazi has loads of room for growth due to the popularity of the Kruger National Park (KNP), which is the top attraction in the province.
KAMHLUSHWA – Although the Kruger National Park is the biggest local (and provincial) attraction, there is much room for growth in Nkomazi’s tourism sector.
A recent presentation by the Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism (KLCBT) revealed that the KNP had about 391 000 visitors in 2017.
Malelane and Crocodile Bridge gates are among the most popular entry points to the park and this should be capitalised upon.
READ: Joining forces with KNP is key to developing local communities
Locals in the tourism sector were invited to attend the presentation at Elangeni Lodge on September 26 to discover what the KLCBT had achieved over the past three years and give their input to its strategy for the next term.
The executive director and marketing consultant, Lisa Sheard, explained that some of the hurdles they face include:
• Revenues are under pressure and capacity is stretched
• Disconnect of with and lack of meaningful support from government
• Preoccupation with tourism-related advocacy issues.
Despite this, the KLCBT hopes to develop a tourism master plan for the region and get government to buy into it, develop its own new revenue streams and to create structures to better deal with problems, leaving it to focus more on destination marketing initiatives.
Local difficulties include ageing infrastructure, neglected tourism attractions, protests and tourism safety and security.
READ: Tourists fall victim to remote scammers
According to Sheard, about R3,8 billion is needed to fix the roads in the Kruger Lowveld region.
In an effort to solve local issues, the KLCBT is pressuring government to concession out their attractions to be upgraded and reinvented.
It is also putting pressure on municipalities to deliver services in an effort to avoid protests and ensure that local tourism safety and security WhatsApp groups grow to keep tourists in the loop regarding any problems.
Sheard stated that there are many tourism growth opportunities, which include upgrading of the greater Panorama Route, international signature events and projects to spark cultural tourism in the rural economy such as Bushbuckridge. Local opportunities include a tourism development corridor from Matsulu to Komatipoort as well as turning small towns into little gems.
The Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains have been declared a World Heritage Site and there could be commercial spin-offs from this.
READ: New World Heritage Site in Barberton brings hope for tourism
To enable the KLCBT to grow and make a bigger impact, locals in the tourism sector were urged to join the Nkomazi Local Tourism Organisation (LTO). It falls under the umbrella of KLCBT and aims to facilitate the growth of tourism in the area.
The Nkomazi LTO was founded two years ago in order to assist small entrepreneurs with business and tourism-related advice and training.
For more information on the KLCBT or to learn more about local initiatives, visit klcbt.co.za.
