MEC urges the Province to take a Sho’t Left

The Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism officially launched the Provincial Tourism Month under the theme “Tourism and Water, protecting our common future”.

Speaking during the launch at the Lowveld Botanical Gardens, MEC YN “Pinky” Phosa beamed with pride as she announced that the province has moved to the second spot in terms of international tourist arrivals nationally, an improvement from the third place occupied in the past year.

Stating the figures, MEC Phosa said “I am proud to announce that we have improved from position 3 in 2011 to position 2 in 2012, in terms of international arrivals. During the reporting period (2012), we received almost 1.4 million international tourists as compared to 1.3 million in 2011.” She then pronounced on the importance of tourism within the province, and also announced the theme of the tourism month.

“Tourism can be used to reduce poverty, unemployment and inequality, which are the triple challenges facing our administration, and this year’s theme is; Tourism and Water, protecting our common future”.

“Water is a vital resource in the tourism industry, South Africa is a water-scarce country and such shortage will influence the growth of our tourism sector,” explained the MEC.

She encouraged the people of the province to take a Sho’t Left and experience other places of interest in the province. Mr Jacques Modipane, CEO of Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA), acknowledged that tourism is a key sector in the province and encouraged stakeholders in the industry to work together.

“Tourism stimulates our economy and creates jobs. It is important that we sustain the relationships we have with our stakeholders because they are the drivers of the sector. Government cannot drive, but only lead the tourism sector” said Mr Modipane.

He further encouraged all the people of the province to go out and explore the hidden treasures of the Mpumalanga Province.

Acting Executive Mayor of Mbombela Local Municipality, Mr Bheki Zulu urged government and stakeholders to improve the tourism sector, as it has demonstrated its growth potential.

“Mpumalanga Province is rapidly becoming the destination of choice for domestic and international tourists; the province needs to seize this opportunity and improve the tourism sector”.

Zulu further stressed the potential economic spin-offs which will accrue to the province once the University of Mpumalanga is functional.

“The opening of the university in the province will also boost our economic growth and create more jobs” concluded the Acting Executive Mayor.