By Lwazi Raul-Shongwe and Kopano Dibakwane
Mpumalanga MEC for Economic Development and Tourism, Makhosazane Masilela, will officially launch Tourism Month on 3 September.
The MEC is expected to highlight the calendar of tourism-related events scheduled to take place as the Tourism Month kicks off.
The launch follows a two-day media tour that took place at areas such as Icwala Lodge(Emakhazeni Local Municipality), Dullstroom, Dunkeld Country & Equestrian Estate, attended by members of the media from their respective publications across Mpumalanga, as well as Gauteng Province. The Department of Economic Development and Tourism said the MEC will use the media launch to outline the activities that the Department, through its Public Entity the MTPA, will be hosting during the Tourism Month aimed at promoting domestic tourism.
Emsamo News spoke to Jacob Lamula from Barberton Community Radio(BCR), who said a lot has improved in Mpumalanga and encourages people within the province as well as those coming from outside the province to visit the preserved destinations.
“ I can say I am so lucky. This is my second time coming to such a launch. However, I would say a lot has improved as we are given a number of opportunities to explore certain activities. Activities such as Quad biking, horse riding as well as the massage we had were worth everything. For some of us, we work really hard and hardly get any time for all this, so we really needed the massage,” said Lamula.
Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency(MTPA) has announced that this year’s Parks Week will take place from 9-13 September and encouraged people in the province to visit as many if not all the tourist destinations throughout the month.
“ The Parks Week is an initiative to open its selected nature reserves around Mpumalanga Province, free of charge to the public,” said MTPA in a statement.
The MTPA said the following nature reserves will take part in the exciting Mpumalanga Parks Week initiative;
Andover Nature Reserves
Barberton Nature Reserves
Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserves
Kromdraai Camp
Loskop Dam Nature Reserves
Mahushe Shongwe Nature Reserves
Manyeleti Nature Reserves
Mkhombo Nature Reserves
Nooitgedacht Dam Nature Reserves
Ohrigstad Dam Nature Reserves
Songimvelo Nature Reserves
SS Skosana Nature Reserves
MTPA says visitors will be required to present their valid South African Identity Document(ID) or drivers license
