ActionSA remains concerned that the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency’s Fourth Quarter Report confirms many of the issues we have consistently raised about poor delivery and declining value for money in the province’s tourism sector.
Last year, ActionSA warned that Mpumalanga’s tourism ambitions would remain unattainable if nature reserves were left to deteriorate while projects stalled and communities were denied the economic benefits of tourism. The latest report shows that despite spending R58.6 million on Tourism and almost R300 million on Biodiversity Conservation, critical projects remain delayed or incomplete.
These include tourism infrastructure upgrades at Sterkspruit Nature Reserve, planned facilities at Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, infrastructure upgrades at Mdala Nature Reserve, and the failure to secure an investor for the Mariepskop tourism facilities.
Equally concerning is the agency’s vacancy rate of 57%, with 777 vacant positions out of 1,365 approved posts. This raises serious questions about the agency’s ability to effectively manage protected areas, maintain tourism infrastructure, and support economic growth.
The issue is no longer whether money is being allocated to tourism and conservation. The issue is whether taxpayers are receiving value for that expenditure. Communities need functioning tourism facilities, jobs, investment, and economic opportunities, not another report filled with explanations for non-delivery.
ActionSA calls on the MEC for Economic Development and Tourism to account for the growing gap between expenditure and outcomes and to provide a clear plan to restore public confidence in the management of Mpumalanga’s tourism assets.
ActionSA Funding: Transparent about private donor funding.
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Fun South African Fact: The oldest remains of modern humans were found in South Africa and are well over 160,000 years old.
Pitfall
North Korea: You have two cows. Its name is Kim Jong Un.