Private sector challenged to develop more tourism attractions in Nkomazi

MALALANE – “What do you need in Nkomazi to get tourists to stay here longer and spend more?” That was the question Oupa Pilane posed to local business people at the monthly business chamber meeting at Riverview Inn on Thursday.

The chairman of the Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism (KLCBT) shared statistics and his insights on tourism in the province and region with members of the Malelane Business Chamber and the Nkomazi East and Combined Commerce and Tourism Association (NECCTA), with the aim of sparking initiatives to develop more tourism attractions in Nkomazi.

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Pilane explained that South Africa gets about 10 million foreign visitors per year, with the most from Europe and the US, as well as neighbouring countries such as Mozambique and Swaziland. About 1,5 million visit Mpumalanga. Domestic tourists who visit the province are mostly from Gauteng and Limpopo.

He said that between 60 and 70 per cent of tourists who visit Cape Town start their travels in the Kruger National Park. Despite this, for every R1 they spend in Mpumalanga, they spend R5 in Cape Town.

Pilane stated that travel patterns have been changing, with an increasing number of people opting for self-drive holidays and the age of travellers has been dropping.

“Young people want to drive somewhere for activities. If they can’t find an activity they like, they cut their stay short. This is turning Mpumalanga into a ‘window shopping’ province,” he explained.

He told the assembled business people that Nkomazi is not taking proper advantage of the large number of people visiting the Kruger and that those involved needed to start taking action.

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“The mentality of sitting back needs to change. The private sector needs to start driving tourism initiatives,” he said.

Pilane explained that the KLCBT is working on its relationship with government and looking at key entry points to the region such as the border posts, Hoedspruit and Acornhoek, Nkomazi and Barberton.

He referred to the Mkhonjwa Mountains near Barberton which were recently proclaimed a World Heritage Site, and stated that it is an area brimming with opportunity. A museum could be built there and it could be included in various local tourism routes.

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Pilane also mentioned that they are looking at building an artificial beach in the Hazyview area to take advantage of the Lowveld’s warm weather.

He mentioned possible opportunities in Nkomazi like quad bike hire, adventure activities or a water park.

Business people were urged to come up with possible attractions or tourism offerings and then do research on who owns the land where it could be situated, if it can be incorporated into a route and if it will be advantageous for a previously disadvantaged area.

He mentioned that other tourism destinations like Cape Town also looked at visitor and spending patterns and hosted big events whenever their revenue took a dip. This helped make those dips less frequent.

“Think outside the box, package your ideas and approach government for assistance,” Pilane encouraged.

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He concluded the talk by saying that the KLCBT aims to set up committees to boost the development corridors that they have identified in the region, but need people to volunteer their ideas and expertise.

During the question-and-answer session that followed, it became clear that teamwork between the various towns and villages in Nkomazi and better marketing of attractions needs to be a priority.

Penny Sibisi, the director of the Nkomazi Local Municipality’s planning and development department also urged the local role players to assist the municipality in creating a master plan and tourism strategy for the region.

Upon mentioning challenges like the toll gate, Malelane Business Chamber chairman, Mel Preddy, mentioned that local communities are in discussions to see how the challenge could be handled and that it would be the topic of a business chamber meeting soon.

Denis Goffinet, the vice-chairman of the Nkomazi Local Tourism Organisation, shared that they are looking to utilise and convert the ‘white elephant’ tourism centre just outside Komatipoort and hoped to get local communities involved in putting it on the map as a tourism and entertainment destination.

The next meeting will be held at the end of May and will be an information session on the progress of the special economic zone near Komatipoort and all interested parties will be welcome to attend.

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For more information on the next meeting or to join the local business chambers, send an email to tourism@klcbt or contact the KLCBT on 013-755-1988.