Mpumalanga Tourism Sites Set for Revamp

On August 11, the MEC for the Mpumalanga Department of Economic Development and Tourism (Dedet), Jesta Sidell, met with the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) and the Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism (KLCBT) to discuss plans to restore and improve neglected sites along the Panorama Route.

The meeting, held at the MEC’s provincial office in Riverside Park, opened with Sidell acknowledging the infrastructural breakdown at various tourism sites and stressing the importance of proper management of the reserves. The MTPA assured attendees that interventions to address infrastructure-related constraints were already in progress to ensure visitor experiences remain uncompromised.

Special attaché of the KLCBT, Oupa Pilane, presented a detailed report, compiled with former KLCBT representative Lisa Sheard, highlighting the poor state of attractions under the MTPA’s management. The report followed Pilane’s declined invitation to join an MTPA media tour on July 15 aimed at assessing the sites.

Key agreements reached during the meeting included ring-fencing income generated from the sites to fund their upkeep, as well as reviving the Tourism Think Tank committee. The committee will meet quarterly with subcommittees focusing on marketing, infrastructure, development, and safety.

“We are at a turning point. By focusing on what matters, fixing our tourism assets and encouraging inclusive growth, we can make Mpumalanga a world-class destination,” Pilane said.

KLCBT CEO, Linda Grimbeek, expressed optimism about working with the newly appointed MEC to implement changes. She also shared that a new policy on funding events is planned to ensure tourism promotion remains a priority.

“The biggest message to the launch of Tourism Month is to see all of us working together to clean and fix the sites,” Grimbeek concluded.