Progress is being made on the infrastructure upgrade programme to tourism attractions in parks in the Western Cape.

So said Deputy Minister of Tourism, Fish Mahlalela, following a site visit earlier this month to West Coast National Park and Table Mountain National Park to assess progress.

The Department of Tourism is investing in destination enhancement and route development projects to diversify tourism offerings and enhance the visitor experience in identified priority areas.

It has allocated R120 million (€7m) in funding for the maintenance programme in 19 South African National Parks (SANParks) properties across the country.

“The pandemic ensured that these projects could be implemented while there were no visitors to the parks,” said Mahlalela.

To date, SANParks has submitted both business and implementation plans to roll out the maintenance programme in the following national parks: Addo Elephant, Agulhas, Augrabies, Bontebok, Camdeboo, Golden Gate Highlands, Kgalagadi Transfrontier, Karoo, Knysna, Kruger, Mapungubwe, Marakele, Mokala, Mountain Zebra, Namaqua, Richtersveld, Table Mountain, Tankwa Karoo, Tsitsikamma, West Coast and Wilderness.

The Infrastructure Maintenance Programme in the Cape region comprises six teams allocated to the region, namely Bontebok, West Coast, Table Mountain, Agulhas and Tankwa Karoo National Parks

“These projects maximise the benefit of local communities and engender a shared ownership of our parks. That way we take tourism to the people and collectively enhance the visitor experience," said Mahlalela.