KLCBT steps in to save Pilgrim’s Rest
The chamber is worried about the state of the tourist destination, as such it is engaging with involved stakeholders, including government to forge ways to reclaim the town's riches.
MBOMBELA – The Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism (KLCBT) is devising a turnaround strategy to revive the once-thriving Pilgrim’s Rest.
The business affairs of the town have been plagued by operational interference by the government. The Depart-ment of Public Works, Roads and Transport is the custodian of the town, but business owners are concerned about an alleged failure of the department to keep the town clean and attractive for tourists.
For that reason, they believe it contributed to a decline in tourism in the area. They also complained that government did not understand the business nature of the old town.
The chamber is worried about the state of the tourist destination, as such it is engaging with involved stakeholders, including government to forge ways to reclaim the town’s riches.
Also read: The deterioration of the historical town of Pilgrim’s Rest
However, it said the plan would require cooperation and commitment from the parties.
During a brief interview with Lowvelder, KLCBT’s newly elected president, Mr Oupa Pilane, said the chamber was working to help provide a permanent solution to the problem.
“Not only has the region’s business and economy been affected by Pilgrim’s Rest’s under-performance, the whole province’s has. We need to act now,” he said.
Also read: New tenders for Pilgrim’s Rest
The chamber was concerned that those who would be given leasing rights might not have the managerial skills required to run businesses.
Pilane said government’s approach towards this destination was not correct.
“Tourism is very different from government projects. You don’t put out a tender to lease a tourism centre. It will never work,” he said.
He added that the department should cease their ownership of the area as their interference threatened investments.
“We are losing on an opportunity to create jobs. As a country we are supposed to be making strides to generate work for all as directed by Vision 2020. The province needs to play its part as well. The government should focus on its rightful role to develop policies and leave business to business people. Government had proved it was not capable of making profits through its entities.”
Part of the plan would be to allow community members to benefit by giving them a stake in business ownership.
That would result in maximum participation to better tourism. “We are not interested in politics, but we want the place to take its original glory as one of the best tourist destination in the country,” he said.
According to Pilane, business leaders have been silent on the issue and that has caused a lot of damage to the well-known establishment.
