Tulani Ngwenya
Durban – The South African National Parks (SANParks) convened a panel discussion themed “Celebrating 30 Years of Sustainable Eco-Tourism and Business Growth Through Partnerships” during the Africa Tourism Indaba in Durban, running from May 13 to 16, 2024.
Ms. Hapiloe Sello, CEO of the SANParks Board, welcomed attendees, highlighting the significance of the occasion. She remarked, “As we celebrate the 30 years of success, we must acknowledge the challenges ahead and strive for a sustainable future for eco-tourism in South Africa.”
Reflecting on SANParks’ journey, Ms. Sello highlighted the organisation’s response to the Cabinet’s directive in April 1997. “It was against this background that the SANParks Commercialization Strategy came into being in 2000,” she explained. “This strategy focuses on selected commercial ventures in which we partner with the private sector on the basis of an appropriate regulatory framework.”
Ms. Sello underscored the importance of tourism revenue in biodiversity protection funding, stating, “Globally, tourism revenue has the potential to contribute meaningfully to the funding of the protection of biodiversity.” She stressed SANParks’ commitment to responsible tourism, noting, “It is therefore befitting to enhance the role of responsible tourism in a biodiversity conservation strategy that is the primary driver in the management of national parks.”
The implementation of the Commercialization Strategy has yielded impressive results, with Ms. Sello reporting, “In the 24 years of its rollout, the Commercialization Strategy resulted in a total contribution of R1,927 billion to SANParks tourism revenues.” She added, “Compared to the highest annual income figure since the inception of the commercialization programme, the 2023/2024 financial year has shown an increase of 46.26%.”
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Ms. Sello also said that the socio-economic impact of SANParks’ initiatives, stating, “The socio-economic impact of this intervention also increased employment in the tourism industry, with 2 158 new permanent jobs.” She highlighted the inclusivity of SANParks’ PPP contracts, noting, “SANParks PPP contracts contain BBBEE scorecard targets to promote direct ownership of a minimum 10% shareholding by black people, black women, and black enterprises.”
The event culminated in the celebration of a joint venture for managing Skukuza Safari Lodge and Nombolo Mdluli Conference Centre at Kruger National Park. Ms. Sello expressed optimism for the future, stating, “As we prepare beyond the next 30 years with Vision 2040, we remain dedicated to advancing partnerships that balance biodiversity conservation, socio-economic transformation, and responsible tourism.”
In conclusion, Ms. Sello reiterated SANParks’ commitment to sustainable eco-tourism and business growth through partnerships, ensuring the preservation of South Africa’s natural and cultural heritage for generations to come.