The North West province – one of South Africa’s largest and more significant local economies, built mainly on mining – has a well-rounded tourism sector that is ripe for investment.
So said Acting CMO of the North West Tourism Authority (NWTA), Mpho Motshegoa, noting that tourism in the province presented investors with numerous options to take advantage of. “We are about wildlife, scenic beauty, adventure and fun. But most of all, we are about our people. You cannot read [about the people’s warmth] in a brochure. You need to come to this beautiful province to engage with our people.”
This week, the world got a glimpse of the North West province as the South African pavilion continues its provincial showcase series at the Expo 2020 in Dubai. The virtual showcase is presented on the South African pavilion’s online portal, giving attendees a sliver of each of the nine provinces over the next three weeks. The pavilion’s theme ‘Think South Africa, Think Opportunity’, calls on investors from around the world to consider South Africa a business destination.
With the province strategically located between Limpopo, Gauteng, Northern Cape, Free State and neighbouring country Botswana, North West could be packaged as part of a varied Southern African experience, said Motshegoa.
“Seventy percent of international flights land at OR Tambo International Airport, and this offers different travel opportunities to Limpopo, Botswana and Gauteng, especially for travellers who want to see more but have little time. Our proximity to Gauteng makes it easier to travel here.”
Tourism contributes about 5% to the North West GDP providing about 30 000 jobs. The province is home Sun City, Hartbeespoort Dam, Madikwe and Pilanesberg Big-Five game reserves, Vredefort Dome Heritage Site, and the Taung Heritage Site, where the 2.8-million-year-old Taung Child’s fossilised skull was found.
Adapting to a new kind of traveller
Speaking during the virtual launch event, Acting CEO of the NWTA, Advocate Mothusi Tsineng, said his board would continue to partner with tourism-sector stakeholders in and outside the country to ensure recovery of the province.
“Marketing programmes like this one are something we wholeheartedly believe will assist in amplifying our efforts of rebuilding the economy in the tourism sector. We need to invest in a long-term and sustainable level.”
He added that tourism would have to adapt to a new kind of enlightened traveller – far from the camera-toting kind that used to travel to escape the daily grind. “We are now dealing with a new breed of tourist who travels to be enriched. We are now in the epoch of the proactive tourist, and who interacts with communities in tangible way.”
Motshegoa said the adaption was built into the province’s tourism strategy. “We always had a strategy built to last. But COVID-19 showed us we need a strategy built to adapt.”
Tourism adheres to COVID-19 protocols
Tsineng said the NWTA has been part of the Vooma nationwide vaccination campaign and is encouraging tourism establishments in the province to get their #jab4tourism. “We are working very hard and the number of people who have vaccinated have increased exponentially.”
He added that those in the tourism sector understood the need to adhere to health and safety protocols. “COVID-19 is going to stay with us for a very long time, but fortunately we have an industry that understands and adheres to the protocols as a way of insulating ourselves and the industry from this monster.”
The next provincial showcase will feature the Free State on Tuesday, December 14. To catch these events, register on the pavilion’s online portal.
