Progress on improvement of tourism attractions on Panorama Route

Yesterday, we had the opportunity to meet with the newly appointed MEC of Economic Development and Tourism regarding proposed interventions to the sites on the Panorama Routes, as well as the management and    development of tourism through a collaboration between government and private sector, as we have done successfully in some instances.

The MEC started the meeting by acknowledging the infrastructural      breakdown and further stated that the management of the reserves cannot be compromised, it is vital to the tourism industry which is a major         contributor to our economy. 

Special Attache for Tourism Development and Transformation, Mr Oupa Pilane, presented a report, drafted by himself and Lisa Sheard, on the state of the attractions under the management of Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency.  He also shared that some tour operators have started to exclude the Panorama Route from their itineraries as a result of the decay.  This influences all the operators and hotels in the entire area!

Sites collect money at the gate, where is it going to?  It should be            ring-fenced for upkeep.  Cleaning and decent ablution facilities should be a priority.  Most issues seem to be an administrative relapse.

The delegation also informed the MEC on several workshops held between private sector and government, where resolutions were taken and not    implemented.  These include a quarterly meeting of the Tourism Think Tank, which is a very high level meeting with sub-committees for           Marketing, Infrastructure, Development and Safety.  Great work came out of there, like the fantastic tourism safety model and anti-corruption initiative

The MEC closed by committing to issue a statement today, to include the       decisions and directives from the meeting which are in summary:

· Acknowledge the challenges and infrastructural breakdown

· Media launch of Friday, and all the unnecessary functions of tourism month to be cancelled and channel those funds to fixing and      cleaning these sites (The Pinnacle, God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck & Three Rondawels)

· Immediately revive the Tourism Think Tank, with draft Terms of    Reference to be shared today

· Check revenue collection at the gate—find a better and safer way and come up with a ring-fencing strategy to ensure there is enough funds for the upkeep of the sites

· Create a policy on funding events, to ensure they promote tourism

· The biggest message to launch tourism month will be to see all of us working and fixing the sites.  All staff will be doing their part.  Private sector will also see how we can assist as we move forward.