SANParks
National Tour Guide Symposium-The Adventure tourism possibilities in Protected areas
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18 February 2016
THEME:
“BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL AND SUSTAINABLE TOURIST GUIDING SECTOR”
How can SANParks help
Stay in touch with the market What market? There is absolutely no existing market for a bird and reptile park in any National Park, for example.
Offer great products Why should a 100 year-old worldwide treasure such as Kruger have to now offer great products?
Focus on sustainability This has F-all to do with sustainability...that is just the current SP catchword. Sustainability largely means the utilisation of actual animal and vegetable items, and is confused with self-funding, another erroneous SP catchphrase.
Capitalise on the Adventure tourism possibilities
Activity Hubs
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developing business in and around National Parks This monstrosity will take business away from the area outside the Park there. Many of these activities are indeed already provided in the Lowveld by experienced and proven PRIVATE operators. This will actually only enlarge SANParks' coffers at their expense, in the extremely unlikely event that financially significant visitors will utilise the place...
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Activities in National Parks traditionally been limited What does "traditionally" mean?
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Introduction of contemporary activities are seen as an exception more than the rule Why do you imagine that to be the case? What is a 'contemporary" activity? Something someone else offers?
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Parks do offer relaxation, connecting to nature and mostly self-drives Indeed relaxation, not extreme sports etc., which may be engaged in easily elsewhere, as said! What the hell does self-drive have to do with this?????????
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However, there is a definite need to cater to the guests who are looking at optimising the visit to a National
Park In fact admittedly feeble surveys regarding the desire by regular visitors to have these facilities were inconclusive, to say the least! And rather point in the opposite direction.
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Increase activities
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> optimize stay in National Parks
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Increased stay Why increased stay? It has been spouted by SP that there will be no accommodation there. Apparently a lie. If there is a new tented camp, that is where the money will come from, the rest is a smokescreen. More vehicles on roads etc. There is a gate quota in place at Phalaborwa gate, so obviously this whole thing is a bad idea, as no more people will be able to come in during peak season...or will they?
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> increased revenue No shit!
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Activity hub model
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> allows for creation of many small businesses benefitting from established operation Not at all in this case. A reptile park, aviary, archery range etc. is a highly specialised and expensive setup.
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Great model for beneficiation and involvement of local communities Dunno what "beneficiation" means. Local communities have huge government departments and NGO's set up to address their upliftment, using taxpayers' money that dwarfs any SP project. This is double use of taxpayers' money, in effect, with extremely high development costs relying upon an uncertain outcome. This money could be far more reliably used on proven projects within the community. SANParks is there to conserve our national heritage, and that is all. Never mind what they have assigned themselves to do politically lately...or BEEN assigned to do by certain forces politically.
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> traditional and cultural activities
to be introduced Why? It appears this venture is actually not designed to cater for previously disadvantaged visitors at all, perhaps a more laudable ideal in the historical and traditional political context? Rather a simple commercialisation exercise for others to gawk at "traditional and cultural activities ", something I have witnessed and personally find demeaning and paternalistic. If this were an historical or archaeological site, maybe a different story. Once again, established cultural activity centres are readily accessible outside Kruger. But what do I know?
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All done in environmental friendly way How is unnecessarily disturbing dozens of hectares of pristine wilderness ecologically friendly? The fact that initially service staff were meant to be housed outside Kruger by definition implies that this is an ecological disturbance.
Adventure Tourism, valued at $263 billion is one of the fastest growing categories of tourism that attracts high
value customers, supports local economies, and encourages sustainable practices (Global Report of Adventure
Tourism, 2014) There is no Global Report of Adventure Tourism, 2014. Will get back to you on that one. Will try and find a Global Report on adventure tourism in pristine international heritage sites.
Way forward
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SANParks received funding for the Planning Phase of: Can we PUHLEASE get a clear set of audited documents stating where and when this money came from, and how it fits into SP budget/s? It is actually our money.
Phalaborwa Activity Hub
Shangoni gate (Phase 1 New gate for high clearance vehicles with new camp site and picnic sites on Shingwedzi river)
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Funding for Phase 2 with extended gate and tarred access with associated activities at hub to follow
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Involvement of local communities integral in making this initiative a
success
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela The desire for equality must never exceed the demands of knowledge
Well over 400 views on my SP thread, with one person in favour, one thanking me for the heads-up, and another sending me a private message sharing my concerns.
I have a feeling there is a silent majority against these types of developments, otherwise why wouldn't there be 400 comments in support?
