With “Sustainable Tourism” as this year’s theme, the province of Mpumalanga is thrilled to host the 2017 World Tourism Day during the month of September. With an events calendar in build up to the main event on the 27th of this month, find interventions across various sectors of the economy in support of World Tourism day. Aimed at growing the provincial economy as well as addressing socio-economic challenges that affect the area, find month long events and happenings throughout the month and beyond aimed at advancing sustainable tourism throughout the province of Mpumalanga.
Mpumalanga Parks Week – Enjoy free entry (day visits for South African residents only) to all MTPA Provincial Nature Reserves. Running from the 18th to the 24th of September 2017, this week-long promotion intends to encourage locals to visit the selected provincial nature reserves during the Heritage Day weekend.
- Hosted at the Bethal Town Hall, join the SMME Fair in building a sustainable culture for local tourism businesses. Host to SMME workshops, talks by business mentors and an exhibition during the event, the tourism SMME Fair will be held in the Gert Sibande District on the 20th and 21st of September.
- Join the Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation (DCSR) for Heritage Day celebrations throughout the province of Mpumalanga on the 24th of September.
- Presided over by the Minister of Tourism and Vice Chancellor of the University of Mpumalanga as well as the Vice Chancellor from TUT, enjoy a public lecture addressing the theme of World Tourism Day: “Sustainable Tourism”, on the 26th of September.
- Attended by the Minister of Tourism as well as various tourism MECs from other provinces across the country, including other tourism industry stakeholders, World Tourism Day celebrations will take place on the 27th of September at the KaNyamazane stadium.
Following the month of September, the theme of “Sustainable Tourism” will continue, to ensure beyond World Tourism month by way of supplementary events and happenings geared at marketing the Province of Mpumalanga as a preferred destination of choice.
Programmes extending beyond the month of September include:
- Forming part of the provinces social tourism activation, senior citizens from nearby communities will enjoy a tour of the province’s many nature reserves. From the 3rd to the 6th of October local senior citizens will explore surrounding nature reserves while being exposed to the culture of travel and tourism and the importance of encouraging local tourism in the area.
- Throughout the month of October, Pilgrims Rest along with the Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation will host their annual Gold Panning Competition geared at bolstering tourism to this provincial heritage site.
- The 23rd of October will see the launch of the Mpumalanga provincial Festive Season Campaigns across various media platforms as initiated by the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency.
While dates in December are still to be confirmed, the last month of the year is set to be most exciting with the Annual Mbombela Beach Festival as well as the Mpumalanga Cultural Experience hosted by the Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation. Keep a look out for more news about these exciting events as well as dates to be confirmed in the near future.
