The Portfolio Committee on Tourism visited a construction site at the Southernmost Tip of Africa at Cape Agulhas as part of its oversight recently. One of the objectives of oversight is to assess and evaluate the integration of tourism priorities amongst all spheres of government. As such, the South African National Parks (SANParks), in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Affairs and the Department of Tourism, embarked on a project to enhance the visitors’ experience when they arrive at the Southernmost Tip of Africa, a popular tourist destination in the Western Cape.
The “Working for Tourism Project” at Agulhas National Park has an approved budget of R14.1m. The deliverables of the project, funded by the National Department of Tourism, are for the establishment and construction of tourism-related infrastructure at the southernmost tip consisting of re-construction and paving of the road with parking, realignment of the boardwalk, construction of a monument and the rehabilitation of the terrain to include hiking and bike trails in the park.
The Portfolio Committee viewed the progress to date and was impressed with the fact that four artists collaborated on the design of the Iconic Structure which features a concrete map of Africa, and an amphitheatre which ends at the monument of the Southernmost Tip of Africa.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Ms Beatrice Ngcobo, commended SANParks, together with the Department of Tourism and the Cape Agulhas Municipality for their commitment in maintaining and upgrading a national monument which is a key tourist attraction in Africa.
Destination travel is enhanced to provide the visitor with much more than just a walk in the park.
Last year, the Agulhas National Park received more than 6 000 visitors. We look forward to the completion of the site and are confident that tourism in the area will be boosted once the construction is completed.
By Sureshinee Govender
7 August 2017
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