Question NW2056 to the Minister of Tourism

Reply:

The Department’s main purpose of visiting KwaZulu-Natal was to assess the impact of the floods on major tourism attractions and establishments that drive tourism demand in the province. While the assessment team focussed primarily on damage to the physical infrastructure of key establishments, as well as the roads inside these major attractions, the assessment of access municipal roads and the national or provincial roads leading to these major attractions fall within the mandate of the relevant departments and entities responsible for road infrastructure. The various efforts are integrated at the level of the Disaster Management Centers both provincially and nationally.

The Department of Tourism did not visit the Eastern Cape for an assessment. This was done by the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA) working with the Local Tourism Organisations (LTOs). Their reports indicate that the roads in the affected areas were not in a good condition due to past and recent heavy rains and/or floods. ECPTA indicated that this has disrupted operations in three major tourism attractions in the OR Tambo District Municipality, namely: Hluleka Nature Reserve, Mkhambathi Nature Reserve and Cremone Estate.

Tourism stakeholders have been requested to report any road infrastructure challenges they are facing due to the floods to the relevant provincial tourism departments.