Destination Limpopo

Biodiversity holds great potential for growth in the tourism industry

Transforming the wildlife sector and creating opportunities for communities and small businesses in tourism sector are priorities for national and provincial authorities.

Supporting local businessmen and women to enter the formal tourism market is part of the Industrial Development Corporation’s brief. The IDC backed local entrepreneur Mofasi Lekota in his hotel venture in the provincial capital, Park Inn by Radisson Polokwane. The development finance institution is also getting behind projects in Magoebaskloof and Thohoyandou.

Almost 70% of South Africa’s number one tourist attraction, the Kruger National Park, falls in Limpopo, and yet relatively few local communities benefit materially from the park, beyond wage earning.

In 2018 the celebration of the International Day of Tourist Guides was hosted by the Limpopo Department of Economic Development and Tourism (LEDET) at the Mopani rest camp in the Kruger National Park. At this gathering, the National Department of Tourism announced a new approach to supporting small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs). Incentives and market support are to be offered in order to compete in the global market. Tour guiding is seen as an area with strong growth potential. The National Registrar of Tourist Guides works within the department.

Wildlife farming and hunting generates enormous amounts of money but South Africans who were previously excluded by law still have very little access to this sector. According to calculations done by a Professor in Tourism at the University of the North West, Peet van der Merwe, trophy and biltong hunters contributed a combined R13.6-billion to the South African economy in the 2016/17 season. The number of direct jobs created in this period in Limpopo was 17 806 (The Conversation). In 2018, the formal wildlife auction turnover for the whole of South Africa was R750-million, as reported by Yolande Groenewald in the Mail & Guardian. A buffalo bull was sold in 2016 for R178-million. LEDET aims to create wider opportunities within these sectors via its Wildlife Transformation Policy.

When President Ramaphosa visited Limpopo in 2017, it was to launch the National Biodiversity Economy Programme. Planners believe that the

Tour guiding can boost local employment.

biodiversity economy can achieve an average annualised GDP growth rate of 10%. Limpopo is rich in natural resources and heritage.

Between 2014 and 2018, Limpopo received more than 27. 5-million domestic travellers and 8-million international tourists. As more infrastructure is rolled out and partnerships created between the public and private sectors, more investment and job opportunities will result.

According to the Limpopo Premier’s office, the tourism sector employs about 22 414 people.

The 5-in-5 strategy aims to increase visitor numbers to five-million in five years.

A new event on Limpopo’s calendar caused great excitement in 2018 with the first riding of the Tour de Limpopo, a four-day UCI Africa Tour 2.2 stage race which started and finished in Polokwane, with a stopover in Tzaneen. A range of sponsors enthusiastically endorsed the race, promoted by the Limpopo Tourism Agency (LTA). Hotel@Tzaneen and Europcar South Africa were sponsors and race officials were provided with cars by Audi Centre Polokwane.

Regular events are holding their own as well: the annual Limpopo Marula Festival in Phalaborwa attracts more than 30 000 participants and is estimated to inject upwards of R45-million into the provincial economy. Several neighbouring countries are well represented in the attendees and 13 cooperatives operating under the Mukumbi Industries brand normally brew about 12 000 litres of marula beverages for the thirsty crowds. Other marula products are also sold such as nuts, body lotions, jam, cooking oil and soap.

The LTA also backs the Mapungubwe Festival, which is growing in stature every year. In addition to the popular musical performances, crafters have an opportunity to display their crafts and generate good income during the festivities.

The tourist authority has six focus areas: • Golf and game • Hunting and safari • Family and recreation • Special interest • Mega-conservation • Meetings Incentives Conference and Events (MICE).

Varied assets

Limpopo Province has varied tourism assets that include the bare bushveld of the north, misty mountains in the central highlands, hot springs, a unique cycad forest, excellent golf courses, the Kruger National Park and numerous luxury private game reserves.

Kruger, Mapungubwe and Marakele are all national parks and they are run by South African National Parks (SANParks). There are a further 53 provincial nature reserves managed by the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET). Many of these reserves are communally owned but jointly managed by the province and communities. The combined land area of Limpopo’s national, provincial and private game and nature reserves is 3.6-million hectares.

The provincial government has committed to enhancing the value of Limpopo’s two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Makapans Valley and Mapungubwe, where the superbly crafted little golden rhinoceros, a relic from medieval times, was found in 1932. This is also a priority programme in the National Tourism Sector Strategy. The Waterberg Biosphere Reserve is a UNESCO protected site.

A new drive to promote home-stays is underway in the northern part of the province. Getting tourists to eat mopani worms and learn about local traditions and cultural practices would help to generate income for villages and hamlets otherwise outside the mainstream economy.

In support of the arts and culture sector, a potential area of growth for tourism in Limpopo, a performance theatre is to be built in Polokwane.

The South African Golf Tourism Association says that up to 10% of visitors to the country are attracted by its golf courses, and Limpopo’s offering has been extended and improved in recent years. At the high-end of the luxury offering are the Zebula Golf Estate and Spa (west of Bela Bela) and the Legend Golf and Safari Resort.

Adventurous visitors can choose from off-road biking, hunting, elephant rides and tough 4x4 trails. A vast array of different cultures can be experienced, from the Rain Queen and her people in the central districts, to the myth-inspired art of the Venda in the north, to the bright geometric house designs of the Ndabele people in the Sekhukhune District.

Hotels and casinos

The 160-room Park Inn by Radisson Polokwane has opened in the provincial capital. Located near the golf course and the Peter Mokaba Stadium, the hotel also has conference and event facilities.

Tsogo Sun runs the Garden Court Polokwane, which has 180 rooms ranging from executive suites to family rooms.

The Protea Hotel group has two hotels in the province. The Protea Hotel Landmark in Polokwane has 80 rooms and six conference venues. Just outside the city is the Protea Hotel Polokwane Ranch Resort where guests can walk with lions. The hotel is on a 1 000-hectare nature conservancy and specialises in catering for weddings.

In Mokopane near the Waterberg mountains, the family-run The Park Hotel Mokopane has 125 rooms and can cater for up to 400 conference delegates. The three-star hotel recently added 25 self-catering units.

The Fusion Boutique Hotel in the provincial capital offers five-star quality in 30 en-suite rooms and two exclusive suites. Sun International runs the Meropa Casino and Entertainment World near Polokwane. In the province’s northern regions at Thohoyandou, there is the Khoroni Hotel, Casino and Convention Resort. This is a Peermont venture and there is a three-star Peermont Metcourt Hotel in the complex. The Limpopo Gambling Board regulates the industry and grants licences. The Mopani District was recently granted two new bingo licences.

The most recent casino licence was awarded to Peermont Global Resorts for the official launch and operation of the Thaba Moshate Casino, Hotel and Conference Centre in the Greater Tubatse Local Municipality. There are 237 limited pay-out gambling machines in the province, and licences of one sort or another generate more than R50-million for the provincial government.

Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism: www.ledet.gov.za Limpopo Tourism Authority: www.golimpopo.com Marula Festival: www.limpopomarulafest.co.za South African Golf Tourism Association: www.sagta.co.za South African National Parks: www.sanparks.co.za

Nomasonto Ndlovu, CEO of the Limpopo Tourism Agency, extends a warm welcome to visitors.

We welcome everybody to our peaceful Province of Limpopo which offers an opportunity to see Africa’s Big Five, while the adventurous can go abseiling, bungee jumping, rock climbing, walking on trails, caving, horse riding or kloofing. For those who enjoy more relaxed and conventional sport, the province offers some magnificent golf courses. We guarantee everybody the enjoyable and breathtaking tranquillity of nature’s fauna and flora.

It is heart-warming to note that visitors to our province can expect to receive a warm welcome in our people’s homes. The Limpopo Tourism Agency and Traditional African Homestays – South Africa (TAH-SA) has found a solution to the concept of homestays in South Africa. We are proud that this award-winning organisation is in Limpopo and continues to make an impact in the lives of the poor women in the Makhado Municipal area. Makushu village is an international tourist attraction visited by tourists from England, USA, Holland, Australia and Germany. The village now has 25 homestays and TAH-SA hopes to expand to other areas.

A wonderful surprise is in store for visitors to the Modjadji Cycad Reserve, boasting some of the oldest and largest cycad specimens on earth. The natural forest can be viewed in its prehistoric state thanks to its strict protection by succeeding generations of Modjadji (“rain queens”), the hereditary rulers in the area.

Limpopo is a land of beautiful and contrasting landscape with hidden gems, exquisite flora and fauna, expansive national parks and nature reserves, mountain passes, rivers and productive fruit farms. Less than 100km north-east of the capital of Limpopo Province, Polokwane, lies the Magoebaskloof mountain range. This area is known as “The Land of the Silver Mist” and offers incredible views, mountainbike trails and canopy tours along zip lines. Then there is the Mapungubwe UNESCO World Heritage Site, the “Cradle of Humankind”, and archaeological sites such as Sterkfontein and Makapans Caves.

Some of the flagship events that visitors can look forward to include: the Tour de Limpopo cycle race, the Limpopo Golf Championship, the Limpopo Marula Festival and the Mapungubwe Cultural Festival.

We look forward to welcoming you in Limpopo.

Nomasonto Ndlovu

Nomasonto Ndlovu has wide experience in brand marketing, communications and events in the private and public sector. She worked as Strategic Executive Director for the City of Tshwane before taking senior marketing positions in fields as varied as banking (Standard Bank) and fast-moving consumer goods (Unilever in South Africa and Kenya). In 2005 she joined KwaZulu-Natal’s tourism board and then worked as the global manager of business tourism at South African Tourism.

Nomasonto Ndlovu has wide experience in brand marketing, communications South Africa’s most and events in the private and public sector. She worked as Strategic Executive Director for the City of Tshwane before taking senior marketing positions in fields as varied as banking (Standard Bank) and fast-moving consumer goods visited province pulls (Unilever in South Africa and Kenya). In 2005 she joined KwaZulu-Natal’s tourism board and then worked as the global manager of business tourism at ahead South African Tourism.

South Africa’s most visited province pulls ahead

The CEO of the Limpopo Tourism Agency, Nomasonto Ndlovu, explains how locals can become valued tourists. The CEO of the Limpopo Tourism Agency, Nomasonto Ndlovu explains how locals can become valued tourists.

Destination Limpopo enjoyed a lead as the most visited province in Destination Limpopo enjoyed a lead as the most visited province in the country the country from 2016 to 2018 despite fluctuating figures. Limpopo’s since 2016 to 2018 despite fluctuating figures. Limpopo’s performance can be performance can be depicted over the past three years as follows: depicted over the past three years as follows:

2016 8.3-million 1.5-million 2017 5.1-million 1.8-million 2018 3.3-million 2.1-million

LTA has a marketing strategy which gets reviewed annually for LTA has a marketing strategy which gets reviewed annually for purposes of purposes of maintaining relevance. It is aligned to the National Tourism maintaining relevance. It is aligned to the National Tourism Sector Strategy Sector Strategy (NTSS), Limpopo Tourism Growth Strategy (LTGS) and (NTSS), Limpopo Tourism Growth Strategy (LTGS) and the Limpopo the Limpopo Development Plan. The Agency has developed another Development Plan. The Agency has developed another strategy that would strategy that would address the visiting friends and relatives (VFR) address the visiting friends and relatives (VFR) segment to be transformed into segment to be transformed into holiday-makers. This segment makes holiday makers. This segment makes up a big number of our domestic tourists up a big number of our domestic tourists but with less spending, but with less spending, as they often do not view themselves as holiday makers. as they often do not view themselves as holiday-makers. This plan This plan seeks to increase the domestic tourists that visit the province for seeks to increase the domestic tourists that visit the province for holidays, against those that are VFR, thus improving spend, length of stay and geographic spread. LTA will develop consumer insights that will assist in developing well-targeted campaigns and interventions. We will also develop a targeted all-year-round campaign that focuses on the VFR market in order for them to explore extending their stay to enjoy the tourism attractions in the province, thereby positively contributing to tourism and economic growth.

The Agency focuses on several clusters to achieve its vision of being a leading tourism destination in Southern Africa. LTA reviewed its clusters and has finalised a new structure. The clusters are as follows:

Culture and Heritage, Family and Recreation, Sport and Wildlife Safari, Safari and Hunting, Business and Events and Special Interest.

Our campaigns are all-encompassing with specific events supporting other respective clusters such as adventure events like 4x4 off-road challenges and cycling events. The Agency also sometimes invites media and influencers to the province to familiarise them with some products and attractions in the province. These trips often provide positive feedback which lead to more visits to the province.

Events play a key role in driving people from one place to the other. LTA partners with several festivals as they draw people to the province. The role of LTA in these events is to assist by bringing the marketing element to make sure they are successful. Provincial flagship events like the Limpopo Marula Festival and the Mapungubwe Cultural Festival are the two government-organised events that LTA annually partners with and assists in marketing for their success. The Agency has identified several other events and festivals that have the potential to grow to the level of the two provincial festivals. Other festivals that also draw more people are organised in various districts and local municipalities such as the Phala Phala Royal Festival in Vhembe District, Collins Chabane Cultural Festival, Thobela FM Gospel Festival and Sekhukhune Gospel Festival. Festivals contribute immensely to the provincial economy.

Limpopo Tourism Agency Board and the MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) officially welcomed the organisers and the teams that participated in the inaugural Tour de Limpopo road race, at Park Inn Hotel in Polokwane on 22 April 2018. This was the first international road cycling stage race to be hosted in Limpopo Province and South Africa. The fully-catered stage race is a UCI Africa Tour 2.2 stage race for professional teams. The Tour de Limpopo aimed to set a new precedent in stage racing, one that would develop and leave a legacy of continued and sustained cycling development and investment into community SMMEs as service providers to the event. This was an opportunity to showcase Limpopo Province as a premier Adventure Tourism destination with so much to enjoy. This was a perfect platform to showcase via livestreaming the beauty of attractions such as Magoesbaskloof, Moria Zion City, Modjadjiskloof, the Sunland Baobab and Debengeni Falls.

Limpopo Tourism Agency (LTA), established in respect of Limpopo Tourism Act No 2 of 2009, has witnessed a metamorphosis since its inception 14 years ago. Limpopo Tourism and Parks (LTP) at the time was also responsible for conservation including management of provincial nature reserves, but in 2007, the Limpopo Executive Council resolved to transfer the conservation function to Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET). It was against this background that the legislation for the establishment of the LTP Board, Limpopo Tourism and Parks Board Act No 8 of had to be repealed to give way to the new one. From then on the entity remained with the management of state-owned resorts (Limpopo Wildlife Resorts) in provincial nature reserves. In August 2015, the Board underwent a strategic workshop to internalise the new piece of legislation governing it, Limpopo Tourism Act No 2 of 2009. The entity was commissioned to review its marketing strategy in line with the new Act. The Executive Council also issued Resolution No 7 of 2015/16, which further directed that Limpopo Wildlife Resorts be transferred to LEDET. This left LTA with only one focus or mandate, of marketing Limpopo Province as a leading tourist destination in Southern Africa. Limpopo Wildlife Resorts (LWR) would be promoted like all other tourism products in the province.

Limpopo’s venues range from game lodges to conference centres.

Limpopo is undoubtedly on a growth trajectory in respect of business tourism. Evidence of this trend comes in the form of the International Fellowship Evangelical Students (IFES) World Assembly which was held in July 2019 in Bela Bela at ATKV Klein Kariba.

The conference attracted an estimated 1 200 delegates from some 160 countries, who spent about two weeks in the region. The idea to bring the conference to Limpopo was born out of engagements by Limpopo Tourism Agency (LTA) at Meetings Africa 2018, confirming the importance of this marketing platform. The agency will also host International Association of Schools and Institutes of Administration (IASIA) at ATKV Klein Kariba from 19-25 July 2020.

Limpopo offers unique conference, meetings, incentives and other venues with relevant resources and superb settings. In recent years, the meetings and incentive industry within Limpopo has grown significantly. Limpopo’s MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) products are conveniently situated within one-and-a-half to three-hour’s drive from Johannesburg. Access to most of the venues is made easy, as the province is served by three airports with direct flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Limpopo offers a wealth of conferencing and exhibition facilities, including custom-built centres designed to the highest international specifications, facilities at hotels, educational institutions and theatres. Conference venues in the province range from country lodges to large conference and exhibition centres in the cities. While in Limpopo on a business mission, conference goers will be spoilt for choice with a plethora of offerings from wildlife to adventure activities.

Three South African cities are currently excelling in the business tourism sector, namely, Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. Limpopo does not have the same sort of large infrastructure that these centres can call on such as convention centres, but the LTA is now focussing on creating awareness about what the province has to offer in the business tourism space.

While Limpopo is still striving towards its goals in taking full advantage of the opportunities in tourism, the MICE sector undoubtedly presents an opening for the province as a destination to focus

on providing big entities or corporate organisations with opportunities to host a variety of activities. This includes incentive trips and team-building sessions which would be ideally suited to what the province has to offer.

LTA already has a Business Tourism Strategy in place that guides it on what needs to be done in the marketing space and on the supply infrastructure and tourism demand side. The entity is ready to establish a dedicated conventions bureau unit to begin searching for and bidding for events from associations in the country and beyond, for example, mining chambers, the Mango Association and Grain Association. LTA intends to secure the calendars of these organisations to lobby for their events to be held in Limpopo Province.

It must be emphasised that there are excellent facilities throughout the province although transformation is critical given a low number of previously disadvantaged enterprises working in this space. The Agency will work closely with Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) to address this challenge.

Limpopo Province continues to be one of the major recipients of tourism arrivals in South Africa given its broad tourism product offering and appeal. Limpopo Tourism Agency will continue to build and strengthen partnerships with the industry, local government and other key stakeholders in order to deliver on its mandate. The Agency will capitalise on this advantage to support and nurture its business tourism profile.

The Agency will continue to maximise its competitive advantage of being bordered by three countries in the SADC region, namely, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. These countries are seen as a low-hanging fruit as the distance to Limpopo for business events and conferences is shorter than anywhere else in the country. Destination Limpopo’s prospects in business tourism are enormous with the upcoming Makhado and Tubatse Special Economic Zones (SEZs) that will inject R44-billion in investments to the province’s economy thereby creating 22 800 direct jobs. This will also contribute to business tourism growth in the province.

More to Enjoy

Limpopo offers a mosaic of exceptional scenic landscape, a fascinating cultural heritage, an abundance of wildlife species and many na ture-based tourism opportunities. Limpopo is the land of myths, legends, beautiful scenery and landscapes as well as majestic baobab trees.

The province consists of living cultures, ancient places, nature reserves and national parks, trees, things to do and things to experience but all of them will leave the visitor with a greater insight into what makes Limpopo the Great North.

Limpopo borders Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It is a prime wildlife destination with a host of game and nature reserves. The climate in the Limpopo Province is quite hot since the area is bisected by the Tropic of Capricorn. Visitors will find that they can enjoy long sunny days and dry weather on most days.

There is spectacular game viewing and birding in the province, as well as a mix of African cultures, intriguing folklore and legend and prehistoric treas ures. It is home to the Mapungubwe World Heritage Site, as well as Modjadji, the fabled Rain Queen, and

the age-old relics of the Makapansgat Valley. It is here that the Venda artists live and thrive, and where places like Lake Fundudzi and the Vondo Forest are considered to be sacred.

The birding at Nylsvley RAMSAR Wetland is a magnet for nature-lovers and many golf enthusiasts have the extreme 19th hole at Legend Golf and Safari Resort on their bucket list. The province is endowed with bountiful natural resources, including 54 provincial reserves and many private game reserves.

The city of Polokwane is at the heart of the prov ince – a growing urban hub with its sights set on the future, yet with a heart and soul steeped in traditional values. Limpopo is a fascinating province and conference delegates or visitors will enjoy the wild beauty of the area combined with incredible cultural insights and numerous adventure attrac tions that will keep them coming back for more.

Limpopo Tourism Agency is charged with the responsibility of marketing the province as the leading tourism destination in Southern Africa with “More to Enjoy”.

Loderick Lubisi, Nedbank Provincial General Manager for Retail and Business Banking for Mpumalanga and Limpopo, explains how Nedbank can help business owners in the region.

There is good news for Mpumalanga and Limpopo business owners and entrepreneurs seeking a unique banking experience: Nedbank Business Banking has business managers, located across both provinces, specialising in commercial industries as well as the agricultural sector.

Lubisi says his team is ready to assist clients with professional advice, industry-specific solutions and a comprehensive range of financial products and services.

‘At Nedbank Business Banking we believe that you need a financial partner who not only understands your circumstances and aspirations, but also provides you with relevant solutions and a banking experience that is hassle-free. This allows you to concentrate on what’s most important to you – running your business,’ says Lubisi.

In line with our new brand proposition encouraging clients to see money differently, our Mpumalanga and Limpopo agriteams are committed to providing key support, as well as advisory and business services to all roleplayers involved in the agrispace in both provinces. We will share our financial expertise and play a role in advancing profitable, sustainable practices throughout the agricultural production and consumption value chain.

We recognise that farmers today face many challenges and that to remain competitive they continually have to improve and adopt best practices and new technologies.

‘We encourage you to see money differently with Whole-view Business Banking™’, says Lubisi.

‘We are also involved in a number of initiatives with the public sector, ensuring that such partnerships support provincial government goals in respect of job creation and growing the economy,’ Lubisi concludes.

Should you be interested in taking your business to the next level, please call Loderick Lubisi on +27 (0)13 759 4910, send an email to loderickl@nedbank.co.za or visit www.nedbank.co.za.

The new Business Bundle from Nedbank is a game changer for small enterprises in Mpumalanga and Limpopo, offering the best value for money when compared to rival offerings.

With the country’s challenging economic environment, the Business Bundle not only offers you personalised banking services, but also critical tools to save – with up to 40% savings on monthly banking fees – contributing directly to the bottomline at a time when every cent counts.

In line with Nedbank’s new brand proposition to see money differently, the Business Bundle resonates with the bank’s commitment to do good by promoting small enterprises.

‘As a bank for small businesses we are committed to partnering with entrepreneurs to help grow their businesses. As such, Nedbank is always looking at ways in which we can help unlock the value of our clients’ businesses. We support their business growth journeys by providing practical tools to help them run their businesses,’ says Loderick Lubisi, Nedbank Provincial General Manager, Retail and Business Banking for Mpumalanga and Limpopo.

To see how Nedbank can help your small business reach its goals call Loderick Lubisi on +27 (0)13 759 4910, send an email to loderickl@nedbank.co.za or visit www.nedbank.co.za/business. Trust us to protect your business against everyday risk Stella Tedeschi, Regional Manager of Broker Channels for Mpumalanga and Limpopo, says Nedbank Insurance is not a one-size-fits-all business.

Nedbank Insurance has evolved into a business that provides integrated insurance to individual and business clients. Our offering comprises comprehensive short-term insurance solutions, life insurance solutions and investments.

Nedbank Insurance provides a comprehensive offering of short-term products on behalf of blue-chip insurers. Should you be interested in expert advice on the type of cover that is exactly right for your business needs, look no further.

Nedbank has a team of specialists ready to provide you with information necessary to allow you to make an informed decision. For more information call Stella Tedeschi on +27 (0)12 436 7659, send an email to stellat@nedbankinsurance.co.za, or visit www.nedbank.co.za.

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