As we enter Tourism Month, we must take stock of the Eastern Cape’s vast untapped potential. Blessed with breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and abundant opportunities for adventure, this province has all the ingredients to become a leading tourist destination.

While the Eastern Cape is rich in resources, the potential of our tourism sector has not been fully realised due to certain management missteps. We must acknowledge these challenges and work together to address them, ensuring the province’s vast opportunities are not left unfulfilled.
The Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA) has a crucial role in managing and promoting our natural assets. However, its efforts have fallen short of expectations in some areas, leading to missed opportunities and financial setbacks. We must take a collaborative approach, engaging government, communities, and private sector partners, to realign our focus and tap into the full potential of our tourism industry.
The Eastern Cape needs a bold and strategic tourism vision that prioritises real economic growth and community benefits over bureaucratic box-ticking.

The Eastern Cape’s tourism potential is undeniable. From the breathtaking Wild Coast to the rich biodiversity of our provincial and national parks, the province has all the ingredients to become a leading destination for domestic and international tourists. However, this potential will remain unrealised unless decisive action is taken.

We must engage with private partners with the necessary expertise to rejuvenate our parks and tourism facilities. These partnerships must be rooted in mutual benefit, where the local communities directly benefit from the tourism activities in their regions.

Moreover, we must ensure that poor infrastructure does not hinder access to these natural wonders. It is a fundamental reality that tourists will not visit attractions they cannot reach due to neglected roads.

Furthermore, we cannot overlook our municipalities’ role in the tourism landscape. Key tourism projects across the Eastern Cape have been neglected to the point where they are now mere shadows of their intended purpose. The failure of these projects, such as the Mthonsi Lodge and the Boschberg Tourism Hub, is a stark reminder of what happens when local governments fail to prioritise sustainable development.

Tourism is a vital pillar of the Eastern Cape’s economy, potentially creating thousands of jobs and stimulating local development.

The people of the Eastern Cape deserve better. They deserve a government that recognises the value of tourism and is committed to unlocking its full potential. As we mark Tourism Month, let us pledge to work together to create a vibrant, sustainable tourism sector that brings prosperity to all corners of our province.

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