FREE STATE UPPING ITS GAME IN TOURISM


FREE STATE UPPING ITS GAME IN TOURISM 

DESTEA (Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs)


Tourism is punted as the fasted growing sector in South Africa, giving hope too many South Africans hoping to enter the sector or get employment. For this reason this sector continues to receive undivided attention from both the private and public sector.

September has been declared tourism month during which World Tourism Day (WTD) is celebrated on the 27th September globally. The purpose with this is to raise the profile of tourism as an industry and encourage South Africans to travel their own country.

To promote the province as a tourism destination of choice and bring awareness to the challenges and opportunities in the sector, the Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) together with its strategic partners will commemorate tourism month with various activities that seek to instill a culture of travel amongst the people of the province and in return contribute positively to the economic growth of the Free State Province.

The targeted markets for this campaign are stokvels, social clubs, burial societies, schools, churches and family reunions.



According to available statistics, South Africa had a total tourism spending of R 296 billion in 2018 and an average annual growth rate of 6.8%.  In Free State the tourism spending as a percentage of GDP in 2018 was 5.55%.
Free State Province had a total tourism spending of R 13.6 billion in 2018 with an average annual growth rate of 8.4% since 2008 (R 6.06 billion).

The province prides itself with natural tourism attractions with the big 5 routes, namely the Cheetah Route, here is situated the only game reserve in the middle of town with the only digital planetarium in Southern Hemisphere and the biggest bronze Nelson Mandela statue which stands at 8 meters.


 The Eagle Route runs from Ficksburg to Harrismith through some of the most picturesque landscape in the country with the iconic rock formations, activity highlights include cherry picking, rock paintings, arts & craft shopping and 4X4 trips.
The Lion Route situated in Fezile Dabi district has activities such as cape wine tasting, gliding, hiking and the famous Deneysville.

The Flamingo Route offers a variety of sporting and leisure activities with Free State’s own Phakisa Freeway Race Track, game viewing and key historical sites.

The best sun rise is viewed in the Springbok Route, which connects the Free State with the Northern Cape, winds through the scenic farmlands and nature reserves of the Xhariep district with historical attractions that include battle sites, and San rock engravings and game farms.
This tourism month, Free State will be a destination of choice with events and campaigns such as:
                                                                    
·        The 7th Annual Provincial Lilizela Awards:                                     26 September 2019
·        Kasie Tourism, Lejweleputswa District:                                         28 September 2019
·        Media Familiarisation Tour, Cheetah and Springbok Routes:   19 – 22 September 2019
·        Hiking Heritage Extravaganza:                                                     20 – 22 September 2019
·        #Keyalewena Short ‘Left Travel Week:                                      23 – 29 September 2019 
·        Closing of Tourism Month:                                                               30 September 

Through these events the department aims to create opportunities to transform the sector and recognize industry role players to ensure that tourism is a significant economic player.



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