Local municipalities not prioritising tourism- says Minister

Many municipalities with some of the best tourism offerings in the country have cut tourism budgets, or do not have a tourism budget at all. This is according to South Africa’s Tourism Minister, Marthinus Van Schalkwyk, who was speaking at the opening of the Local Government Tourism Conference, Sandton.

Van Schalkwyk asserted that local government was obligated to deliver basic infrastructure upon which tourism was built. “Tourism enhances the image of cities and towns; attracts additional commercial investments beyond the tourism sector; creates employment opportunities and contributes to economic growth.”

He cautioned local governments that failing to deliver basic tourism infrastructure could have a negative impact on the future economic growth and development in those municipalities as tourism has the potential to create local jobs.

“Local governments play an important role in the economic and social development of their communities. They must work with the various private and public stakeholders in the tourism sector to ensure that their communities derive maximum benefit. If tourism is to grow, we need a concerted, well-coordinated approach to manage it, which includes a well-managed approach to visitor servicing,” said the minister.

“I therefore call on municipalities to make tourism a high priority in their budgets. To create the same quality of jobs in the tourism sector as in other economic sectors, the investment required is much less,” continued Van Schalkwyk.

He said local governments would also find that in the National Department of Tourism, the social responsibility implementation (SRI) programme was a willing partner, which would make money available for concrete development plans. He cited three successful examples of the programme: Hector Pieterson Memorial Square in Soweto, which attracts about 25 000 visitors annually; Zithabiseni Resort, Mpumalanga; and Mukumbani Falls Project, Limpopo.

He said the local tourism industry had much to celebrate in terms of achievements and the integration of tourism in government policy, planning frameworks, and economic and development agenda. For this reason, the Local Government Tourism Development and Growth Support Programme was developed in partnership with the South African Local Government Association.

The minister said the programme would equip tourism practitioners and policy makers at local government level with much-enhanced tourism skills in key areas.

“We will work with provinces and municipalities to ensure the integration of tourism priorities in the Provincial Growth and Development Strategies and Integrated Development Plans.”

“The implementation of the National Tourism Sector Strategy will require strong partnerships across public and private sectors, but, most importantly, appropriate structuring, capacitation and resourcing in all spheres of government,” concluded the minister

Elephant relocated into wild after 23 years in captivity

Gondwana Game Reserve in the Garden Route embarked on a project on March 5, together with the Bloemfontein Zoo and Conservation Global, to relocate Thandora, a 27-year-old elephant, from captivity to the wild.

Thandora has been in captivity for 23 years. Her elephant companion at the zoo recently died, and it was decided that she needed a more suitable home where she could form part of a herd.

“Gondwana Game Reserve was sought out for this relocation as it provides a suitable herd and environment for Thandora as well as the facilities to support her transition,” said a statement by the reserve.

It said the biggest challenge was preparing Thandora for her new free-roaming life. “Due to her captive environment she has low muscle-tone and poor fitness, which could be potentially life-threatening if she is released directly on to the 11 000-hectare reserve. The Gondwana elephant herd can cover up to 15 kilometres in a day, which Thandora needs to be physically prepared for.”

She will therefore be placed into a rehabilitation programme for her diet and exercise. “While in the holding boma, her diet will be adapted from captive-based food, such as fruits, vegetables, bread and lucern, to natural forage. She will take part in a fitness programme where she will be walked daily within the holding boma, building up to a target of 10 kilometres a day. We anticipate this to take six to eight weeks, or as long as is necessary.”

The programme will be closely monitored by Conservation Global’s research department, which will look at behavioural and physical elements. The results are hoped to be published and used for future elephant relocations from captivity.

Crime decreases on Table Mountain

Crime on Table Mountain has reduced drastically since the inception of the Table Mountain Safety Forum (TMSF), according to a statement released by SANParks.

The TMSF was established in early 2011, following a spate of attacks on Table Mountain.

The forum focuses on incident management and data analysis, boosting volunteerism, effective communication, victim support services, the use of technology to complement the existing operations, community involvement and monitoring and evaluation

Merle Collins, SANParks Regional Communications Manager: Cape Region, said the number of crimes perpetrated against Table Mountain users reduced by 50% between 2011 and 2012.

She added that from October 2011 until January this year, there was not a single reported criminal incident against a mountain user in the areas on Table Mountain where TMSF members are active in the City Bowl between Signal Hill to Devil’s Peak and Camps Bay.

“Unfortunately, between January and February there have been a total of three incidents of robbery and attempted robbery in these areas, and the TMSF has immediately responded to this by increasing its activity with SANParks rangers, SAPS officers on horseback and on vehicle patrol, neigbourhood watch patrols and through aerial surveillance, as well as through the eyes and ears of bikers, hikers and walkers. Given that the Cable Way reported record numbers, some 120 000 rides in December alone, incidents are few and far between,” said Collins.

She said the primary incidences were thefts and attempted thefts from vehicles left for long periods in parking lots near popular mountain trails.

“We urge members of the public not to leave any valuables inside their vehicles and to report any suspicious activities and while on the mountain, to report any suspicious activity or to report a crime or emergency,” she said.

“Most importantly, we call on all members of the public that do experience incidences of crime to report them, as this will allow police officers to intervene and reduce crime into the future.”

The SANParks emergency number is 0861 106 417 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 0861 106 417 FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting .