The international theme for 2016’s tourism celebration, as set by the World Tourism Organisation, is “universal access”. This is aimed at highlighting challenges that persons with impaired mobility face at tourism facilities and places of interest.
Access tourism – the development of tourism opportunities for people with disabilities and for the elderly – is the fastest growing sector internationally. It is a high growth industry, expanding and exploring the potential of a vast market of tourism products. Access tourism embraces tourism, travel, and hospitality. It is also a lucrative market, which can do much to boost our future economic growth, thus making Limpopo the leading tourist destination for all.
LEDET, through the LTA, commits to assessing trails in all parks and venues managed by LTA and LEDET, for their suitability of use by all travelers for ease of use and inclusion. A nature trail in a park can be set up so that it cannot only be walked but also so that it can be traversed by someone in a wheelchair – and the informational signs along this trail read by all – even by a visually impaired person, for instance.
Accessibility should also include sensitivity to the concerns of people with disabilities, on the part of both the tourism industry as a whole and the people who work in it. It is important to see each traveler as a unique individual, regardless of their physical or mental condition, with the right to experience travel to the fullest. The 2016 tourism month theme, as driven by South African Tourism, is “Tourism for all, universal accessibility” and is included in all marketing efforts for the period.
The tourism sector in Limpopo has displayed great resilience over the past few years, despite the economic instability in many parts of the world. Citizens of Limpopo themselves are taking travelling seriously, and statistics show that more than 60% of the people visiting the province are from their home province of Limpopo.
The LTA is confident that the province’s tourism figures and economy will improve tremendously through continued aggressive marketing efforts.
Limpopo has a huge competitive and unique advantage over the other provinces, by being bordered by three countries. These are: Botswana on the west, Zimbabwe in the north and Mozambique on the east.
This gives the province two Transfrontier Parks: Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Park - that encapsulates South Africa (Limpopo Province), Botswana and Zimbabwe, as well as Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, which covers South Africa (Limpopo region), Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
