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After 20 years of leadership and a career dedicated to people-centred conservation, Andrew Zaloumis has stepped down as CEO of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. He will pursue his studies in sustainability at Cambridge University in the UK and continue to contribute to Southern African conservation and development.
Not only was he instrumental in the establishment of South Africa’s first Unesco World Heritage Site, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in KwaZulu Natal, Zaloumis also transformed the region from a declining tourist economy into a flourishing and growing tourism destination capable of competing with some of the finest global attractions.
“Under his tenure, Mr Zaloumis pioneered and institutionalised development-focused conservation at the park,” said Minister of Environmental Affairs, Dr Edna Molewa. During his leadership, government has delivered significant benefits across the iSimangaliso region, both through the Lubombo Spatial Development Initiative and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority.
These include the construction of the Hluhluwe to Mozambique road, upgrades to the N2, the implementation of a programme that reduced malaria incidence by 96% in KwaZulu Natal, as well as the listing of iSimangaliso on the World Heritage role and the promulgation of the World Heritage Convention Act, the consolidation of 16 parks under one banner and management system, the investment and construction of park roads, bulk services, tourism accommodation and day-visitor facilities in the 320km-long iSimangaliso.
The awards given to Zaloumis and iSimangaliso include the SAICA 2015/16 award for Public Sector Audit Excellence, the WWF Living Planet Award, Mail and Guardian Greening the Future Award for youth leadership and job creation, the National Heritage Council Golden Shield Award for World Heritage Site of the year, and the KFW Grizmek (for people-centric conservation practices). iSimangaliso was also a finalist in the World Travel and Tourism Council Tourism for Tomorrow Awards and in 2016; Zaloumis was given the honour of a John P McNulty Laureate for the Rural Enterprise Programme.
Terri Castis is acting CEO until the new CEO is announced on September 11.
Sоurсе: tourismupdate.co.za
