OVERVIEW
Tourism Biodiversity protection is expanding.
SECTOR INSIGHT A new licensing act aims to better regulate business activity.
ULT.X BMX and Skate Championship 2021, Sun City
A
n additional 24 000 hectares of land is to be conserved through a biodiversit y stewardship programme that forms part of the North West Protected Areas Expansion Strategy and Implementation Plan. The North West Parks Board and the Provincial Government of North West aim to protect representative ecosystems in ways that make them resilient to climate change and create opportunities for local communities to make a sustainable living. Finding a balance between agricultural activities and tourism is not the only challenge in an area that also frequently experiences droughts. Although the reserve that lies just to the north of Sun City is known as Pilanesberg National Park, in fact it falls under the North West Parks Board and is one of many parks and reserves controlled by the province. Both Pilanesberg and Madikwe have gained international reputations for the diversity of flora and fauna they have to offer and the high standard of accommodation at private concessions within the boundaries of the parks. The malaria-free Pilanesberg National Park, located in the ecologically rich transition zone between the Kalahari and the Lowveld, has more than 7 000 animals, 360 bird species, and more than 200km of roads. The North West Parks and Tourism Board (NWPTB) is investing in the province’s 12 smaller parks with the intention of creating jobs. In partnership with the National Department of Tourism, work has begun on the Manyane Game Lodge in Mahikeng, with a budget allocation of R43-million. Another project envisages a mega-park in the north-western sector of the province, the Heritage Park.
NORTH WEST BUSINESS 2021/22
38
The impact of Covid-19 will be felt for many months to come, and the tourism sector of the North West Province will be affected by the restrictions on travel that were put in place in 2020. Provincial authorities are going ahead with infrastructure projects in the expectation that tourists will return in numbers. Among them are: • Bloemhof infrastructure project (R30-million). The second phase will be completed in the 2021/22 financial year. • Vaalkop Dam (R15-million): plans approved. • Borakalalo Tented Camp (R15million): plans approved. A saving grace for the province is the extremely wide range of activities that are offered to a high standard. This makes it more likely than one or more of these subsectors will be in a position to lead a recovery. Sun City (golf, conferencing and hotels) and several game lodges within game reserves are world famous. Birding, fishing, hunting and hotair ballooning are among other popular pursuits and Potchefstroom has outstanding sporting facilities. Australia and Spain won the cricket and soccer world cups from their
