This momentous step forward in sustainable development of the region's tourism potential reaches across political divides and geographic borders, and cements relations between Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) and its regional neighbours.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will be signed between the three tourism authorities in October is intended to strengthen the tourism relationship between the three parties; it will also offer domestic and inbound visitors a host of exciting holiday packages and products.
"Not only will the MoU strengthen the tourism relationship between the three parties, it will also offer domestic and inbound visitors a host of exciting holiday packages and products which will expand tourism horizons in the run up to 2010 and beyond," said Charles Ndabeni, CEO of the MTPA.
Stronger relations within the region will make trans-frontier tourism a reality, presenting some fantastic multi-destination opportunities for local and international tourists alike, while at the same time fostering stronger trade relations.
"We will all be working together for a common goal, establishing a common business framework for tourism in the region," said Dramos Bernado, CEO of INATUR. "By working together, we can all achieve a much more desirable destination status, pooling our resources where marketing and product development are concerned."
Eric Maseko, CEO of the STA said that priorities for regional development included improved airlift.
"We have identified that we need to prioritise airlift between Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA), Swaziland and Mozambique and, to this end, we are working on an aviation strategy and will be organising a 2010 aviation workshop and tour operators' workshop," said Maseko.
Joint regional destination marketing, research and information management and 2010 World Cup initiatives are also high on the list of issues to be tackled under the terms of the MoU.
"We need to explore joint platforms to promote this region," said the MTPA's Ndabeni. "We also need to pull together a product database, establish benchmarks for service excellence and source graded accommodation jointly for all major events of the 2010 World Cup," he explained.
Skills development will also be a major focus of the MoU, as will a combined approach to conservation management.
"We share a number of key values in our combined drive for increased tourism development in our region," said Ndabeni. "Among these are a passion and commitment to achieve our shared vision, as well as recognising the need to be inclusive and represent the collective interests of all tourism business in respect of social policy, planning and programmes between Mpumalanga, Swaziland and Mozambique."
