Tourism

Culture and heritage have potential.

The global pandemic closed down the tourism sector and it Sector Insight will take some time to recover. The requirements for social Cancelled festivals will distancing mean that festivals will be one of the last types of mean job losses.tourism to restart.

This will be a big blow for the Free State, where festivals such as the Bloemfontein has 151 rooms, Mangaung African Cultural Festival (Macufe) have become a fixture on and there is a Road Lodge at many calendars. In 2019, a total of 921 temporary jobs were created the airport. at the festival. Other festivals that normally attract good crowds are The Rantsoareng Group the Cherry Festival (Ficksburg), the Rose Festival (Bloemfontein), the operates exclusively in the Free Clarens Craft Beer Festival and the Vintage Tractor Fair (Clocolan). State and has three properties, Bloemfontein’s Kunstefees celebrates artistic expression and the the biggest of which is the connections between cultures. President Hotel in Bloemfontein.

Heritage is seen as a sector with growth potential. A Heroes’ Park is Sun International runs the to be constructed at Thaba Nchu and Tumahole with statues of Oliver Lesotho Sun and the Maseru Tambo and Fidel Castro. The much-delayed museum and statue at Brandfort to commemorate Winnie Madikizela-Mandela will be opened in the course of the 2020/21 financial year.

The Free State is a good destination for water recreation. The Gariep Dam offers resorts and large expanses of water on which pleasure crafts can meander. Forever Resorts runs a popular resort with chalet accommodation and a caravan park. Overlooking the dam is the 43-room de Stijl Gariep Hotel. The Vaal River is another popular place. The town of Parys, which also boasts a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the shape of the Vredefort Dome, is geared to river sports.

The annual NAMPO Harvest Day is a major event. In 2019 more than 81 000 people descended on the small town of Bothaville on the banks of the Vals River.

In 2019 the 88-room Splendid Inn Bloemfontein (pictured) was Sun in neighbouring Lesotho. opened by Premier Hotels & Resorts. Protea Hotels has four properties In Bloemfontein, the Windmill in the Free State, two in Bloemfontein, one in Harrismith and the Protea Hotel Clarens. Casino and Entertainment Centre offers slot machines and Image: Protea Hotel Clarens

The Tsogo Group’s properties include the four-star Southern Sun gaming tables, plus conference Bloemfontein and the Goldfields Casino in Welkom. The City Lodge facilities. The four-star Willow Lodge has 80 rooms. The Naledi Online Resources Sun Hotel and Casino is about

Bloemfontein Tourism: www.bloemfonteintourism.co.za 65km from Bloemfontein.

Free State Gambling, Liquor & Tourism Authority: www.gla.fs.gov.za The Golden Gate Highlands

Free State Department of Economic, Small Business Development, National Park in the Maluti

Tourism and Environmental Affairs: www.destea.gov.za Mountains is one of South Africa’s great parks. ■