Limpopo Maximises On SADC For Tourism Benefits

Limpopo Tourism and Parks (LTP) is maximising on its competitive advantage of its proximity to the SADC countries to benefit and grow tourism in the province and the region. In 2007, LTP, a tourism agency in Limpopo, facilitated talks with some of the SADC members including Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia with a view to creating tourism harmony amongst members for purposes of ameliorating on the tourism offers in the region. Limpopo to Tourism and Parks would leverage on this initiative by partnering with individual countries for the creation and development of more improved tourism packages.

The 2007 meeting, which took place in Durban during Indaba Tourism and Travel show, culminated in the members signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that gave birth to what is today called Zambezi Destination. The initiative has to date added two other members to its list, namely, Namibia and Mozambique bringing to five (5) the total number of members.

Four years after the initiative was hatched, the initiative operates so well and there are improved services, such as the Xai Xai route called ‘from bush to the sea’ at the Phalaborwa gate of the Kruger National Park to Mozambique. Members of Zambezi destination again met during this year’s Indaba in Durban on the 9th May 2011 to consolidate their and service the MOU. Most importantly, the meeting mandated all the tourism agencies in the respective countries to formulate positioning papers to present to their political heads for the buy in. Limpopo’s main competitive advantage comprises the two transfrontier parks, namely, the Great Mapungubwe Transfrontier Park, bordering South Africa and Botswana and the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, bordering South Africa and Zimbabwe. Limpopo Tourism and Parks is presently negotiating with the two parks to develop packages that will be even more fascinating for tourists visiting Limpopo.

“We hope and believe the initiative will work and thus put Zambezi Destinations on the global map and thus bring in a lot of visitors to all the member countries”, said Rob Tooley, the CEO of Limpopo Tourism and Parks, who is the current Chairperson of the forum.