KwaZulu Natal is relying on private investment and public-private partnerships to drive tourism development in provincial parks and reserves, under commercialisation strategies guided by Tourism KZN.

The goal for the strategies, which cover the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and reserves managed by provincial conservation entity Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, is to increase revenue by attracting private operators and harnessing their expertise to diversify tourist offerings.

“The management and operation of tourism facilities in iSimangaliso and other provincial parks and reserves was shouldered largely by Ezemvelo. Due to a constrained budget that had hampered the nature conservation agency’s work, this was an arrangement that had to change,” said Tourism KZN Acting CEO, Nhlanhla Khumalo.

“Ezemvelo has done a significant job in terms of improving infrastructure within reserves. But when we get private operators on board, we are able to relieve the financial burden of maintaining those facilities,” said Khumalo.

The commercialisation strategies are geared at attracting a mix of foreign investors and local operators, while ensuring that communities reap the benefits of increased income and employment opportunities.

iSimangaliso provides blueprint

Under its commercialisation strategy, iSimangaliso Wetland Park has received investment proposals for 48 business opportunities, ranging from accommodation establishments to activities such as game drives, boat cruises, scuba diving, snorkelling, turtle tours, fishing charters, whale watching, kayaking, canoeing and trails and walks.

Khumalo said each of the advertised business opportunities – targeting a mix of big businesses and SMMEs – had received at least two proposals, which the provincial Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs were assessing.

“We have all the confidence that we are going to have an exceptional tourism experience at iSimangaliso, and this is the strategy for all the reserves going forward,” said Khumalo.

iSimangaliso’s integrated management plan (2022-2031) recognises the role of the private sector as the “primary provider of capital and expertise in the development of tourism products and services in the Park”.

The plan stresses that iSimangaliso’s mandate explicitly includes the facilitation of optimal tourism-based development, by “creating an environment that will encourage the private sector to develop and run tourism facilities, operate tourism activities and provide services that support them”.