Mpumalanga stalwart reacts to being elected to the board of SA Tourism

Oupa Pilane says he is humbled to be appointed as a new member of the SA Tourism (SAT) board. The cabinet announced his membership on Thursday February 29.

In an interview with Mpumalanga News on Monday March 4, he said he appreciates this new role.

“I will be part of the people who will look for solutions in our country. I appreciate the minister who saw it fit that I am able to do this role. I would like to thank the people of Mpumalanga for the support they have given me throughout and I will always be indebted to them. The Tourism Business Council of South Africa nominated me to represent anything that has to do with tourism, and I appreciate it.”

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Pilane is the co-founder of the Graskop Gorge Lift, a world-class attraction, which drew 130 000 visitors in its first year of operation. The lift has a custom-designed passenger-viewing elevator that drops you from from the grassy clifftop plateau down to the cool mountain forest below. He is currently the SATSA’s Chairperson of the Southern African Tourism Services Association and the former chairperson of the Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism, among others.

Pilane said they could have chosen anyone, yet they chose him. “They could have decided that they want someone that has more experience than me in the group, although I was given the opportunity.”

He said he has plans in mind as he ventures into this role. “Apart from marketing SA, we need to market regions. We should not forget our neighbouring countries. It is important for Southern African Development Community regions to grow together. We need to go back to the basics, and look into domestic travelling and school travels.”

The MEC for finance, economic development and tourism, Nompumelelo Hlophe, welcomed and congratulated Pilane.

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“As a province we are delighted and honoured that we will for the first time have a person who will represent our interests pertaining to tourism on a national level. We believe Pilane, who is a strong player in the tourism industry in our province, will become our tourism ambassador on a national level. He will push hard for the funding of tourism projects and initiatives by South African Tourism in our province. We congratulate him on his appointment, and wish him well with the job ahead. His illustrious history in the industry speaks volumes, hence we believe he is the appropriate person for the job. He will be our link with the tourism industry on a national level and hope his appointment to the SAT Board will benefit our province immensely,” said Hlophe.