Tourism recovers, Limpopo third most visited province
Monama said the department is responsible for tourism in the province and it will remain important to set the tone for the development of the tourism sector.
LIMPOPO – Tourism MEC Rodgers Monama last week said that Limpopo was the third most visited province over the December holiday, with 14.3% after Gauteng and the Western Cape with 20.3% and 16.1% respectively. He attributed this speedy recovery in the sector to the partnership efforts with the private sector that he said continues to immerse visitors in the most unforgettable experiences.
Speaking at a strategic planning session held at Tzaneen Country Lodge on Thursday, Monama said mining, agriculture, and tourism are the three pillars of Limpopo’s economy.
“Tourism is one of the sectors that had been severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic with the outbreak being felt across the entire tourism value chain. The latest United Nations World Tourism Organization statistics showed that international tourism has almost completely recovered from the unprecedented crisis of Covid-19, with many destinations and domestic trips reaching, and even exceeding pre-pandemic arrivals. The latest results of the 2022 Domestic Tourism Survey indicate that a total of 33.1 million day trips and 23.2 million overnight trips were undertaken in South Africa, with a total expenditure of approximately R41.2 billion,” said Monama.
He said as the department responsible for tourism in the province, it will remain important to set the tone for the development of the tourism sector for the next five years and beyond.
“We must take advantage of the uniqueness of the province and utilise it as an opportunity to maximise on developing the economy, noting that across the value chain, tourism remains the largest employer in the country’s economy. We have everything in Limpopo to turn our economic fortunes around.”
He told CV that the sector has come out of the tourism sector recovery, albeit with bruises, but progressively stronger.
“As a province, we have some of the world’s most beautiful natural wonders including the Funduzi Lake in Vhembe, which should be at the same level as the Iguazu Falls, located between the border of Brazil and Argentina. We boast natural sites such as Magoebaskloof and the Modimolle Mountains. We have two World Heritage Sites namely Maphungubwe and Makapans Valley,” he concluded.
