Fix Mpumalanga tourist area before it fails
The failures in service delivery are becoming so painfully obvious that tourism numbers are under serious threat.
In the apartheid era, South Africa's tourism slogan was "A world in one country," highlighting the country's diverse attractions. Tourism is a renewable resource, benefiting from the nation's mountains, beaches, and wildlife. Local and foreign tourists contribute to thousands of jobs in hospitality and conservation, making it a valuable asset for the country.
However, not all tourist destinations are as fortunate. One of the most important areas in Mpumalanga, controlled by Thaba Chweu Local Municipality, is facing a slow and painful collapse. This includes Lydenburg, Graskop, Sabie, and Pilgrim's Rest. The municipality's service delivery failures, particularly in water supply and sewage disposal, are extremely concerning as they threaten the tourism numbers in the region.
Oupa Pilane, chair of the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association board, emphasized that these issues are not just service delivery problems, but also tourism and economic development concerns. Businesses are forced to invest in water tanks, boreholes, and filtration systems to keep their operations running, ultimately affecting the destination's competitiveness and sustainability.
Pilane stressed that simply marketing the area won't solve the underlying problems; fixing the destination is crucial while promoting it. Someone must take notice and address these pressing issues.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
