DURBAN – The Ehlanzeni District Municipality’s (EDM) tourism stars shone ever so brightly during this year’s annual instalment of the Tourism Indaba, held at the state-of-the-art Albert Luthuli Convention Centre in Durban.
Service providers from the local municipalities, within the EDM’s jurisdiction showcased the very best of the Lowveld’s hospitality, including internationally reputed heritage sites.
EDM featured prominently at the Indaba with a colourful and well-branded exhibition stand in the province’s pavilion managed by the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA).
This stand attracted a number of tourists from abroad and locally, who were treated to promotional material by the local municipalities, which included Mbombela, Bushbuckridge and Nkomazi.
The material consisted of booklets containing tourism products available in each of the municipalities, as well as keyholders, pamphlets, bags and route maps which are key to the visitors who converged on the stand.
What also came in handy was the TV monitor showcasing all the attractions available in the district municipality.
The Indaba officially opened on Saturday and the EDM stand was fortunate to receive a surprise visit by KwaZulu-Natal’s MEC for economic development and tourism,
Mr Mike Mabuyakhulu.
He was impressed with the joint set-up of all the municipalities as presented by EDM.
The officials manning the stalls, spoke in one voice to promote the Lowveld’s products. The stand also had the privilege of being visited by the province’s very own MEC for finance, Mr Eric Kholwane and the MTPA’s chairperson, Mr Sipho Lubisi, his entourage and officials.
Delivering his keynote address during the official opening the minister of tourism, Mr Derek Hanekom, gave a motivational speech as he touched on unique tourism products and cultures which regularly attract tourists, a feature that this region also excels in.
EDM’s MMC for local economic development and tourism, Cllr Butinyana Mokoena said, “I was impressed by our professional approach to the Indaba by packaging all our products from the five local communities into one.”
The interaction with tourists and other product owners from different provinces and countries was overwhelming. Judging from this presentation at the Indaba, we are sure to increase our tourism through increased numbers of visitors.
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