Kruger Lowveld Tourism raises concerns over roads and infrastructure

Kruger Lowveld Tourism (KLT) has set its agenda for 2018, following a brainstorming session with the regional tourism body’s President and Executive Management.

KLT Executive Director and Marketing Consultant, Lisa Sheard, said KLT’s priorities this year included engaging with government and other stakeholders responsible for the region’s road infrastructure, exerting pressure to find an urgent long-term solution for saving Pilgrim’s Rest in Mpumalanga, putting together a tourism think tank, and the urgent upgrading, revitalisation and innovation of the region’s public attractions.

“We believe these are all salient issues that need to be prioritised this year to ensure that we are able to grow tourism to the Kruger Lowveld region,” says Sheard.

President of Kruger Lowveld Tourism, Oupa Pilane, says: “When it comes to the state of the region’s road infrastructure, good roads are essential if we are to see a growth in tourism numbers to the region and tourism employment within the region.”

“There’s a huge backlog, and government budget urgently needs to be reallocated to improve the main access routes into the region, for example the R540 from Belfast to Dullstroom to Lydenburg/Mashishing and the R36 from Lydenburg/Mashishing to the N4 at Schoemanskloof. Our internal network of roads along, and around the Panorama Route also needs to be urgently improved,” he says.

Pilane says an inclusive, long-term solution needs to be implemented, one that will not only benefit tourism but the communities in the area. “An innovative approach will put the town on a sustainable road to prosperity, reinvention, vastly improved numbers and quality tourism offerings that will ultimately result in increased tourist numbers. If no local solution is forthcoming, KLT will again have to elevate the matter to national level.”

According to Sheard, Mpumalanga is in need of a ‘Tourism Think Tank’ to elevate the tourism agenda and to bring benefits to the local communities.

In addition, the region’s public attractions are in need of upgrading, revitalisation and innovation. “For example, our lowest hanging fruit is the Panorama Route, where existing tourism numbers are high, but facilities are outdated. One could follow the example of the new Graskop Gorge viewing lift, which is bound to increase the length of stays in the region,” says Sheard.

Pilane adds that tourism safety and security remain important elements of any tourism agenda and that KLT will continue to pressurise law enforcement authorities to improve their efforts in this regard.

KLT will further meet with mayors and municipal managers from all local municipalities across the region this year, in a bid to escalate tourism up the Integrated Development Plan agenda. It will also request meetings with the MEC for Tourism and the MEC for Roads to further engage on all these matters.

Source: tourismupdate.co.za