North West Provincial Government to prioritise infrastructure development to resuscitate tourism industry

North West Premier Kaobitsa Bushy Maape maintains that plans to resuscitate the tourism sector will encapsulate prioritising infrastructure development. Premier Maape was addressing stakeholders in the tourism sector in Rustenburg.

The primary objective of the meeting was to devise strategies which the sector can use to recuperate from the ramifications of the pandemic.

Premier maintains government has the responsibility to create an enabling environment for tourism to thrive by responding to challenges such as ageing and dilapidating infrastructure.

“Complaints were raised about the roads around Pilanesberg and we swiftly responded by allocating R50 million to upgrade roads in that area. More funds will be allocated in the next financial year. Our focus is based on two strategic objectives, which are to upgrade and revitalise the infrastructure, and this will contribute in job creation and address challenges such as poverty and unemployment” Premier Maape remarked.

Tourism is one of the key drivers of the provincial economy and just before the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, it contributed over sixteen (16) billion rands to the GDP of the province. Premier Maape insists government will also focus its energies on helping small and medium enterprises to circumvent challenges brought by the pandemic.

“Our focus will also be confined within assisting small enterprises to recover from the challenges brought by the pandemic. We have set ourselves timeliness to address all the challenges raised by both established and upcoming entities. We will be moving with speed to address all the concerns raised here” Premier Maape remarked.

Source: Government of South Africa