The iconic Panorama Route has suffered years of neglect by the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA), and the Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism (KLCBT) is now holding the agency accountable for its decline.

On Tuesday, July 15, Oupa Pilane, the special attaché of the KLCBT, took the media and other KLCBT members on a tour of the Panorama Route.

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Pilane originally planned to meet with the MTPA at the neglected sites for which they are responsible, but the agency refused and insisted they meet at their offices.

In response, Pilane arranged a media tour for news publications to visit the unkept attractions.

“We are not fighting with the MTPA; we simply want them to work with us to maintain these sites,” Pilane stated.

These are some of South Africa’s most breathtaking spots, and the vendors selling African crafts are still enticing for tourists but need a little tender loving care.

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The tour started at Pinnacle Rock, then proceeded to God’s Window and Bourke’s Luck Potholes, ending at the Three Rondavels.

It was evident that the bathrooms were not up to standard, having no toilet paper and toilets with missing seats. The information boards at the attractions were damaged, preventing tourists from learning about the sites’ histories. Cracked wall paint in museums made the sites look dilapidated, and scattered litter created an impression of carelessness.

Pilane said it was unacceptable since tourists spend money to visit these attractions.

“We are sitting with these jewels that can create more than 2 000 jobs if we implement the basics and create amazing attractions,” Pilane explained.

He said in his speech at the KLCBT conference earlier this year that international tourists only travelled to Mpumalanga to visit the Kruger National Park.

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He said that they spend only 40% of their travel money in the province and then leave to go to the Western Cape. He went on to say that Mpumalanga has a lot to offer and that, if the attractions are well kept, it will encourage tourists to stay longer.

The MTPA sent two representatives to join the tour to inspect these sites and report back to the agency. Linda Grimbeek, the CEO of the KLCBT, also joined the tour and took a survey of all the sites to help create long- and short-term plans for maintenance.

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Grimbeek confirmed that the surveys will be taken into consideration, and the KLCBT and the MTPA will reveal action plans in the next seven days. Pilane also shared that a detailed report will be presented to the newly appointed MEC for Economic Development and Tourism.