Mpumalanga and Limpopo hosted a three-day domestic tourism activation under a joint memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen regional travel co-operation.

The activation was held in the five districts of Limpopo from Friday to Sunday.

The partnership seeks to market Mpumalanga and Limpopo as a combined tourism destination, encourage domestic travel and contribute to the growth of the tourism sector.

The activation was led by the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) in collaboration with the Limpopo Tourism Agency (LTA), which are spearheading the implementation of the MoU.

The initiative is aimed at promoting tourism in both provinces during the summer season while showcasing the range of attractions and experiences available to visitors.

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Local tourism drives job creation

LTA marketing officer Modjadji Makoala said the domestic tourism activation forms part of the agency’s Tourism Month programme and the ongoing partnership between the two provincial tourism agencies. It included the annual PhalaPhala FM Royal Heritage Family Fest, held at Nandoni Dam on Saturday, September 26, and Maugumbwe World Heritage Walk.

“The main aim of the MoU is to tell the world what we can offer. Growing the tourism industry is important because it forms part of the economic pillar of our country, and many jobs are created in the sector.

“With this activation, we are going to have a number of activities that will attract visitors. We are urging them to support local accommodation establishments because they employ many young people,” she said.

Makoala added that the relationship between the LTA and MTPA was working well, with the agencies encouraging tourists to visit both provinces.

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“We have been receiving tourists from Mpumalanga who visit our area through this MoU. We have also sent some tourists to Mpumalanga to show them what they can do there after experiencing the beauty of Limpopo,” she said.

She also encouraged residents to explore attractions within their own provinces so they can promote and share their experiences with others.

“We are calling on people to know their own areas and visit the tourism sites so they can tell the stories and promote the places where they live. Most of these sites employ local people, and visiting them and spending money there helps sustain those jobs,” Makoala said.

Mpumalanga offers affordable summer packages

Meanwhile, MTPA product marketing manager Londiwe Dos Santos said Mpumalanga was benefiting from participating in the Limpopo domestic tourism activation.

“It works well for Mpumalanga to be part of this activation because we get to learn more about how we can strengthen the tourism sector in both provinces, and promote both well-known attractions and those that still need greater exposure.

“Our main focus is to ensure that domestic tourism takes centre stage this summer. We have a range of packages at very reasonable prices,” she said.

Dos Santos said the collaboration between the two provinces would help strengthen domestic tourism by encouraging residents to explore attractions closer to home before travelling further afield.

“We encourage people from Limpopo to visit local tourism sites and also get an opportunity to visit Mpumalanga. We also encourage the use of social media to share the attractions they visit because that can attract more visitors,” she said.

“We need to start locally before we can go to the world. Once local people embrace what they have, the world will automatically learn about these destinations and visit them.”