The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on the Mpumalanga Government to urgently address the issues of dilapidated roads and criminal activities in the Tourism and Hospitality Sectors of the province before tourists stop visiting us completely.
According to the Tourism 3rd Quarter Report for 2023, Mpumalanga had the second highest international arrivals, the highest being Gauteng. Mpumalanga needs to improve and keep our position as one of the most visited provinces in South Africa, so we need to act urgently to address the issues of crime and dilapidated roads.
Just this week as we celebrate the Tourism Month, four (4) European tourists, two Dutch and two from Germany, were targeted by hijackers in two separate incidents in Badplaas and near the Oshoek Border Post. Such attacks are concerning as the tourism sector will suffer – leading to job losses.
The Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa and the Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism, have recently raised their concerns about the dilapidated roads and criminal activities around tourism establishments across the province of Mpumalanga, especially through the world-famous Panorama Route, which is considered the jewel of tourism in the province.
Currently, Mpumalanga has an expanded unemployment rate of 48.7% as reported in the recent Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS); and the Mpumalanga Tourism and Hospitality Sectors have a potential to close the unemployment gap, but with daily reports of criminal activities on tourists, we are doomed as they will stop coming to the province completely. Some of the crimes reported against tourists include the following: hijackings, attempted hijackings, robberies, attacks on tourists and break-ins and theft at tourism establishments.
In 2022, Tourism in Mpumalanga managed to contribute between 2.3% and 3.6% towards the Growth Domestic Products (GDP), however the contribution to employment is higher as it is a labour-intensive industry.
Tourism does hold the potential to be an engine of growth in Mpumalanga, that is if the provincial government can prioritise fixing roads, act against crime, and come up with initiatives to stimulate this market. This province has a potential to strategically promote our unique attractions like the Panorama Route and Kruger National Park, promote our diverse cultural offerings, natural heritage, and different traditional dishes to attract visitors, thereby stimulating economic activities, supporting local businesses, and increasing revenue through tourism-related expenditures.
The DA strongly believes that government should come up with sustainable initiatives first to grow the tourism market, such as focusing on maintaining the roads that lead to these destinations, ensure that crime prevention strategies are in place to protects tourists as well as maintaining the tourist sites, ensuring the bathrooms are clean.