On Friday, 21 August, the tourism minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, and her team launched their “Road To Recovery” in Parys. The surprise media briefing was the first cross-border leisure trip since it became legal in lockdown level 2. Thanks to Bennie Pretorius and his REAL Adventures crew, there was very little that was “leisurely” about the day. It was jam-packed with adventure, nature, heritage, discovery and fun activities. The minister and her officials had never experienced or envisaged most of these activities so close to their homes. The first stop for all participants was the safety station, where temperatures were taken, hands and pens sanitised and track-and-trace information was provided. The base then exploded with activity: quad-biking, paintballing, archery, hiking, paddling and abseiling. The action was interspersed with commentary about the region from the knowledgeable guides.
Bennie Pretorius of REAL Adventures taking the minister’s temperature at the safety station. Photo: Supplied.
Everything was done with masks on and social distancing compliance. Of particular interest to the ministerial party was the Vredefort Dome. The government is now targeting all the Unesco World Heritage Sites in SA as catalysts for rapid economic recovery and job creation. It wants them to be promoted and nurtured tourism destinations, with the sense of national pride and respect they deserve.
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Bennie Pretorius of Real Adventures together with Fezile Dabi’s new Local Economic Development Director Taetsane and Keakabetse Ramokonopi, Lion Route Ambassador – Fezile Dabi.
nother ray of light for the Parys area is that Parliament’s portfolio committee on tourism has recently adopted an oversight approach. The initiative seeks to promote tourism development in the country’s villages, townships and small dorpies (VTSDs) because “the pace of tourism development in South Africa has been “too pedestrian” and largely confined to the Johannesburg/Durban/Cape Town “Golden Triangle.” It has prompted the government to celebrate 2020’s Tourism Month in September under the UN’s World Tourism Organisation’s theme, “a better future for all”. This could propel the tourism sector’s vast capacity to create jobs and reduce the country’s unemployment rate.
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Minister listening to HouseOfCrew director Renee Hartslief about relief for guides and creative funding ideas for Vredefort Dome businesses.
If the minister keeps travelling the “Road To Recovery” she embarked on in Parys, and if everyone plays their part by adhering to simple but responsible safety regulations, this spring and the months ahead could see businesses in our VTSDs thriving, rather than barely surviving.
