Polokwane - An estimated 50 000 people are reported to have visited wildlife resorts in Limpopo over the festive season - more than double the number of visitors in 2010.
Limpopo Wildlife Resorts, a group of commercial resorts under the management of the Limpopo Tourism Agency (LTA), said they recorded a significant increase from 20 663 visitors in 2010.
"This has been one of the most fruitful and successful festive seasons that we have had in many years. We wish to also put it on record that there has not been any incident reported at our resorts this festive season," said LTA spokesman Mike Tauatsoala.
Tauatsoala said the visitors spent more than R1.6 million during the festive season at establishments like Mphephu Resort, Nwanedi Resort, Doorndraai Nature Reserve, Acacia Resort and Rust de Winter Reserve.
"We are very proud to announce that Limpopo citizens topped the list of visitors to our resorts, followed by Gauteng and Mpumalanga. Interesting again, is the increased visits by tourists from the SADC countries to our resorts during the festive," he said.
Tauatsoala said the high volume of visitors followed a successful pre-festive season campaign that started in November last year.
"The province continues to do well, given its strategic location as a gateway to other African countries and this will undoubtedly boost our domestic tourism," he said.
He said the successful festive season was an indicator of the province's good domestic tourism strategies.
Tauatsoala said Limpopo was a province that was known for its diversity of culture and languages.
He said the Kruger and Marakele national parks remained the highest tourist attractions in the province.
"High volumes of tourists have also been registered at other facilities such as Forever Resorts in Bela Bela, Swadini in Hoedspruit and Tshipise in Thohoyandou. Other private game reserves and lodges as well as Mapungubwe National Park, which is a renowned world heritage site, also did very well during the past festive season," added Tauatsoala.
He said Limpopo also recorded a high number of bookings for 4x4 trails through the province's new product, namely Great Limpopo Transfrontier Wilderness Camp and Trails, which covers Letaba, Luvuvu and Great Limpopo Eco-Trails.
He said the LTA day visits were becoming a popular phenomenon with local citizens, which boosted the festive season figures.
"Thanks to campaigns such as the Wildlife Mahala Week, which were held during Tourism Month. The campaign seeks to provide free experience of our resorts to ordinary citizens in our province," Tauatsoala said.
The LTA is a parastatal under the provincial Economic Development, Environment and Tourism Department.
