North West Business 2017 edition

DESTINATION OVERVIEW
Tourism
Tourism is a key pillar of the North West economy.
SECTOR INSIGHT
Sun City has spent R1-billion
on upgrades.
• Cultural tourism is a new
focus area for the province.
Tourism has been identified by the North West Provincial
Government as a “key pillar” of the economy. In addition to promoting
the already popular game reserves, Hartbeespoort Dam
and Sun City, the provincial planners are targeting the cultural
sector as a potential growth market. The Mahika-Mahikeng Cultural
Festival is expected to grow in significance to the regional economy
as it expands, having been started in 2015.
Arts and culture development centres (Mmabana Centres) are
found in three of the province’s districts. Twelve public museums have
been identified together with 400 heritage sites as part of a census
on the province’s cultural assets. The long and interesting history
of the Batswana people provides rich scope for commemorations,
memorials, song and dance.
Three tourism strategies (Culture and Heritage; Events and an overarching
regional strategy) are set to inform what the premier of North
West has called the Arts Culture and Tourism (ACT) developmental
agenda for the province. In keeping with the emphasis on small towns
and rural areas, a Rural and Social Tourism strategy is to be charted.
Among other provincial plans is a publication to be produced by
the Department of Tourism to market the province, particularly to
attract potential tourists in SADC countries, in other parts of Africa
and in BRICS countries like China, India, Russia and Brazil. Related
to the SADC theme, is a scheme to develop transnational routes
that would include sites such as
Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Direct
flights are being contemplated
to BRICS countries.
The Department of Tourism
in the North West hosted the
Bojanala District lekgotla (public
meeting) where discussions were
held about the way forward for
tourism in the province. There is
a strong belief that the industry
can become a major creator of
jobs and wealth within communities,
if the correct strategies
and products are developed.
Anthropology comes
to the fore at Taung, site of
the first discovered fossil of
Australopithecus africanus.
The North West Development
Corporation (NWDC), has an investment
plan linked to this famous
site, involving a museum,
hotel and spa resort.
The NWDC is also offering
investors the opportunity to
expand the terminal building at
Pilanesberg Airport.
The Treasure Route runs along
the N12 highway and includes
NORTH WEST BUSINESS 2017
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