Tourism

Nationally, there has been a major shift in the tourism sector away from strategies that rely on physical attributes towards those that emphasise competitive behaviour. This notion is taken forward in key provincial documents, such as the LGDS and the Provincial Tourism Plan, which call for the development of spatially concentrated clusters that have unique competitive success in a particular field.
Within the Sekhukhune context, a number of clusters have been identified recently as offering significant tourism potential. These include:
√ Themed routes for special interest groups.
√ Family recreation for neighbours and local residents.
√ The game industry for hunters, lodges and game farmers.
√ Business tourism.
√ Agri-tourism.

(a) Current tourism infrastructure
Tourism has been identified as one of the major growth sectors in the Sekhukhune District. The District’s Tourism Strategy indicates that there are an estimated 84 accommodation facilities offering 2,627 beds throughout Sekhukhune. The sector also employs about 962 persons.

Source: GSDM (2005). Greater Sekhukhune Tourism Development Strategy. Status Quo Report.
The potential of this sector could be more fully exploited if multiplier effects are taken more advantage of.

(b) Flagship tourism projects
The Sekhukhune area has a number of potential tourism attractions, some of which have been captured as flagship projects under the District’s new tourism plan. The area hosts the scenic Flag Boshielo Dam area, for example, as well as the adjoining Schuinsdraai Nature reserve, Potlake Nature Reserve and the Maleoskop resort and conservancy.

(c) Tourism anchor projects in Sekhukhune
The District’s Tourism Development Strategy recommends the 5 following anchor projects:
√ Flag Boshielo cluster.
√ Tjate heritage site.
√ Main entrance gate and route development.
√ Klein Drakensberg escarpment.
√ De Hoop Dam to Mapoch recreation complex.

(d) Future growth
According to the District’s draft LED Strategy (GSDM, 2007a), tourism in Sekhukhune is still in its infancy with limited offerings and low service standards. It does, however, have the potential to diversify the economy in a sustainable and labour intensive manner. The Sekhukhune area encompasses a variety of potential tourism destinations, which many specific market niches. These niches need investigation and development of destinations, into compelling attractions. Growth in tourism is currently driven mainly by business visitors in the public and mining sector activities and agriculture provides an opportunity to grow the sector creatively with unique attractions.
Recent research done for the Sekhukhune District’s draft 2025 Strategy also made a few predictions about the employment-generating potential of the tourism sector in the area. The employment potential of some of the key projects is captured in the table below.

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