‘Tourism will survive’
Treasury MEC Seaparo Sekwati says it is no secret that the tourism sector has been hit the hardest by the Covid-19 pandemic.
POLOKWANE – In Limpopo it may be even worse given that tourism is what gives the provincial economy the competitive edge.
He spoke on behalf of Premier Chupu Mathabatha at the 2021 Tourism Lekgotla held under the theme Advancing Tourism Growth Investment and Partnerships, at Tiveka Game Lodge on August 26 to 27.
Sekwati emphasised that in African tradition, a lekgotla will be summoned when a community or society experiences challenges that require attention and resolution. He says he trusts that the collective willingness of the guests and their ability to finding solutions will propel the tourism sector to greater heights.
“Just as attendees of a lekgotla in a traditional African community, you come to this meeting with valued knowledge and unmatched commitment to finding solutions to prevailing challenges. I have no doubt that delegates to this lekgotla are equally revered and renowned practitioners in the space of tourism and economic development in general.”
He says Limpopo has been competing at the top with other provinces, with regard to international travels and that the tourism sector has held poll positions countrywide in domestic travels with approximately 22.2 million arrivals. Sekwati previously mentioned during the State of the Province Address (Sopa) in May, that the tourism sector in the province has been growing and flourishing since 2015 but that the impact of Covid-19 on the provincial economy was particularly devastating.
He says in response to this, Provincial Government has implemented a provincial tourism recovery plan which focuses on protecting and maintaining the provincial tourism market share, tourism infrastructure and to aggrievedly market Limpopo as a tourism destination of choice. He did, however, add that the greatest recovery plan that can be implemented in this sector and beyond, is achieving herd immunity from Covid-19 and he supported the aim set by the Health Department to have as many people as possible vaccinated.
“As I have said in my introduction, I have full confidence in this lekgotla and the delegates, to help us find solutions to the challenges in the sector. Whereas some of the challenges came with Covid-19, there have been challenges before Covid-19. We need to be honest and robust in interrogating the challenges in our tourism sector.”
