Limpopo Tourism and Park updates on tourism month

Limpopo-September is celebrated as a Tourism Month in South Africa whereas the World celebrates the World Tourism Day (WTD) on 27 September annually. WTD will this year commemorate its 30th anniversary in the vibrant country of Ghana under the theme ‘Tourism – Celebrating Diversity’. This year’s theme focuses on the world’s cultural wealth and the important roles sustainable tourism plays in revitalizing local traditions and making them flourish as they cross cultures.

In South Africa this is a month long celebration used to foster domestic tourism and ecourage South Africans to travel their own county. The celebrations in South Africa will take place on the 29th September in the Northern Cape town of Kimberly at the Galeshewe Stadium.

As LTP we will use the Tourism Month to provide awareness on heritage and cultural tourism threreby showcasing the richness of cultural diversity, celebrating and honouring individuals who have made a contribution to preserve cultural tourism in the Province.  We have, as a province, adopted the national theme for this year, “Tourism- Celebrating Diversity”.

ON LIMPOPO WILDLIFE RESORTS BACKGROUND OF LIMPOPO WILD LIFE RESORTS
Over the last three years, Limpopo Tourism and Parks (LTP) embarked on an ambitious programme of face-lifting the tourism infrastructure within Provincial Parks. This was done to raise service standards for the state owned resorts (Limpopo Wildlife Resorts) and thus putting them on a new trajectory of sustainability whilst keeping them more affordable to ordinary South Africans.  The tourism infrastructure upgrades were ignited by the Provincial Government grant of R50 million meant to address some of the tourism infrastructure challenges facing nature reserves.  These funds were granted during the financial year 2006/2007. In order for LTP to assess the scale and magnitude of the infrastructure backlog, an infrastructure audit work was conducted and revealed that an amount of R362 million was required to address basic infrastructure requirements for the top 12 reserves out of a total of 49 provincial nature reserves.

During the 2007/2008 financial year, LTP began in earnest to implement the infrastructure programme. Some of these products will be showcased at the product launch on the 1st of September 2009.  During the same financial year, the Deparftment of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) changed the LTP’s mandate. LEDET took back conservation responsibilities from LTP and charged LTP with the responsibilities of conducting generic marketing whilst focusing on tourism and hospitality management services within Provincial Parks. Furthermore, three LIMDEV companies were also transferred to LTP namely, Acacia, Mphephu and Nwanedi resorts.
During the 2008/2009 financial year, a new Business Wing, Limpopo Wildlife Resorts, was formed and charged with the responsibilities of rendering hospitality management services and   generating revenue competitively within LTP. During the same year LTP approved the Business Strategy, the Business Model and the new identity for the new division.  To enhance this ideal, the Limpopo Wildlife Resorts (LWR) began in earnest to streamline all necessary preparatory work to reposition itself in this highly competitive environment whilst also making sure that its products appeal to market segments beyond its traditional base. LWR also increased its tourist arrivals from just around 36000 annually to over 140 0000 currently, with source markets predominantly coming from Limpopo and Gauteng, with other Provinces and international markets following suit.

LWR WOMEN EXPEDITION 2009
Every year, South Africa celebrates women’s month during August.  Such celebrations are always characterized by corporate and government initiatives that seek to encourage and empower woman’s efforts, building on the hero’s and heroines of the hard fought struggle for liberations and economic emancipation for the majority of South Africans.

LTP has not let this month go by without significantly contributing positively to the aspirations of the South African women. For instance, LTP has for the last three years been taking corporate women into what is referred to as ‘from the boardroom to the bush’ thus introducing women to ‘traditionally outdoor ‘men’ activities’.

The 2009 edition of the women expedition will focus on Women in Soccer as a build up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup event. In this way, corporate women in soccer from all nine provinces (SAFA regions) together with women from Soccer Federations of Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique, Swaziland, Lesotho and Zimbabwe will participate the 2009 Edition of the Women Expedition.

Furthermore, the four local women teams will compete against each other at Mphephu Resort on the 30th of August 2009 where a winner will be determined during this full day tournament. The teams will also be able to receive motivation and coaching clinics from corporate women coming from the SAFA regions of South Africa and those hailing from the SADC region. This would be a great motivation for this up and coming women soccer teams in South Africa

SITES AND ACTIVITIES OF THE WOMEN EXPEDITION

• LWR 4×4 challenge at Lekgalameetse : 29th August 2009
• Women  Soccer at Mphephu Resort: 30th August 2009
• Ladies Golf Challenge at Euphoria: 31st August 2009
• Spring day flower distribution at Kranskop: 1st September 2009
• Ribbon cutting at Nylsvley birding lodge: 1st September 2009
• Birding tour of the floodplain at Nylsvley: 1st September 2009
• LWR Brand launch at Polokwane International Airport: 1st September 2009

ON THE TOURISM CONFERENCE/ LEKGOTLA
The Provincial Tourism Conference will converge within the broad strategic context of formulating a common approach and understanding on a range of key issues and challenges facing the tourism industry. The conference will converge under the theme “Tourism Service excellence towards 2010 and beyond – harnessing transformation within the industry”.

The emphasis will be on building partnership among and within stakeholders within the tourism industry.

Furthermore, the conference will constitute a key strategic platform for engagement, and discourse with a view to share information service excellence, customer service and the best practices within the sector.

The conference will also review progress made in the implementation of the Meropa declaration within particular emphasis on transformation and small enterprise development within the tourism industry.

Key note Speakers will lead some of the following topical issues at the Lekgotla:

• State of the destination in the province
• Polokwane Host City readiness for 2010
• Limpopo Tourism Growth Strategy
• Service excellence and grading of establishments
• Tourism month Plan
• Conference Declaration

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