Question NW2891 to the Minister of Tourism
21 September 2023 - NW2891
Graham, Ms SJ to ask the Minister of Tourism
(1) What was the (a) total cost of the Baviaanskloof Interpretive and Visitor Information Centre at Nuwekloof and (b) source of funding for the specified centre; (2) what total number of persons have been employed at the centre since its opening in 2022; (3) (a) what is the total number of vacancies at the centre and (b) on what date will the vacancies be filled; (4) what (a) total number of visitors have been to the centre in each month since its opening and (b) programmes are planned for the centre for the rest of the current financial year?
Reply:
(1) (a) I have been informed by the Department that the total construction cost for the Baviaanskloof Interpretative Centre & Visitor Information Centre was R35 230 367.75. The amount excludes the R8 212 121.00 for consultants’ fees.
(b) The Department of Tourism successfully secured R57 million funding from the European Union through National Treasury for the implementation of the Baviaanskloof World Heritage Site Leopard Trail Huts and Interpretation Centre projects.
(2) There are currently 5 employees at the Centre; 2 providing information to visitors and managing the Centre and 3 officials managing the security gates.
(3) (a) The Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Authority (ECPTA) has drafted a Human Resources Plan that will inform the number of vacancies to be filled, however there are 5 employees currently at the Centre.
(b) The HR Plan developed by ECPTA will be subject to board approval by end of
2023/24 financial.
(4) (a) What total number of visitors have been to the centre in each month since its opening.
|
MONTH |
WESTERN SECTION INTERPRETIVE CENTRE |
EASTERN SECTION GATE |
WESTERN SECTION GATE |
TOTAL |
|
Aug-22 |
1424 |
173 |
200 |
|
|
Sep-22 |
170 |
100 |
133 |
|
|
Oct-22 |
116 |
121 |
340 |
|
|
Nov-22 |
133 |
125 |
225 |
|
|
Dec-22 |
172 |
260 |
671 |
|
|
Jan-23 |
50 |
874 |
575 |
|
|
Feb-23 |
96 |
389 |
390 |
|
|
Mar-23 |
0 |
260 |
105 |
|
|
Apr-23 |
130 |
664 |
325 |
|
|
May-23 |
0 |
376 |
265 |
|
|
Jun-23 |
27 |
350 |
345 |
|
|
Jul-23 |
92 |
335 |
300 |
|
|
Aug-23 |
60 |
1450 |
||
|
Total |
2470 |
4027 |
5324 |
|
|
Overall Total |
11821 |
(b) The Centre is strategically placed as the biodiversity educational centre, tourism hub and to operate as the visitor information centre for the Western section of the Baviaanskloof. The Centre is linked to other concessions in the Baviaanskloof, e.g. the Annual Trans-Baviaans Mountain Bike Challenge Race and the Leopard Trail hiking experience.