Community Benefits from Tourism Income at Kruger NP

[Toko]

DEA sums it up: Reply to Parlimantary Question

https://pmg.org.za/committee-question/2269/


11 March 2016 - NW507

Profile picture: Hadebe, Mr TZ
Hadebe, Mr TZ to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs
(3) to what extent does the local community benefit from the income generated through tourism at the park?


Reply:

(3) when one talks about “local communities” it is important to remember that the Kruger National Park perimeter is heterogeneous both in terms of land use as well as human densities, socio- economics and context. The Kruger National Park perimeter is over 1000 km long (1017km), approximately half of which is in South Africa. Sixty one percent of the boundary is bordered by conservation related land use (the remaining being agriculture, rural and urban settlements and a small amount of industry). On the South African side the park straddles two provinces (that is, Limpopo and Mpumalanga), three district municipalities and seven local municipalities. There are 37 Traditional Councils representing approximately 240 villages and towns in close proximity to the fence, comprising around 1 million people.

3.1 The 1.5 million tourists that visit the Kruger National Park annually contribute towards approximately 80% of the park’s operating budget, paying for the bulk of salaries of the 2243 staff, 90% of whom come from the villages and towns adjacent to it. Many of the staff is employed within the tourism sector. Although not employed directly by the Kruger National Park, over 12 000 conservation related jobs within the greater Kruger National Park are the direct result of employment through the Expanded Public Works Programme. The concessionaires operate in the park as well as in the adjacent private, communal and provincial reserves most of which focus on the high end tourism market.

3.2 Funding obtained from tourism contributes towards the implementation of various initiatives aimed at local capacity building through education and outreach, reaching on average 80 000 learners annually, most of which are from local schools.

3.3 In addition, tourists contribute directly to community development projects in areas adjacent to the Kruger National Park through a tourism fund of 1% that is ring fenced for community projects. To date this has been used for funding of local school infrastructure development including a state of the art school administration facility, a well-stocked computer centre and early childhood development play equipment.

3.4 Several small scale enterprise development initiatives enable local entrepreneurs to access the tourism market through various channels including five locally owned and run arts and crafts outlets (collectively turning over R3.1 million annually), community owned car wash facilities at major camps, community owned kiosks at day visitors picnic sites and local catering service providers for events (turns R328 289 annually). The community owned Park n Ride game drive business turns over approximately R250 000 annually.

3.5 The Kruger National Park contractor development programme builds capacity of local building contractors through both formal and practical training sessions, using the local contractors for new buildings and the maintenance of the existing tourism and other infrastructure facilities. To date the programme has successfully trained 29 contractors who have in turn employed 360 staff, and have collectively contributed towards an infrastructure spend on Small Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) of R628 million since 2006.

3.6 Focusing on high end five star tourism, the concessionaires in the Kruger National Park partner with the South African National Parks (SANParks) in community development, through using on average 200 local SMMEs for various service provision through the year, amounting to over R6 million annually in recent years.

3.7 In cases where land restitution has taken place inside the Kruger National Park, relevant communities work with private partners to unlock additional benefits from tourism operations such as Nkambeni in the south of the park as well as Makuleke in the north with community land owners receiving preferential employment and business opportunities, as well as both rent and concessionaire fees based on turn over.

[Richprins]

This answer is confusing...

Local communities have benefited to the tune of trillions of Rands regarding job creation and local and foreign tourist expenditure in the Lowveld over the years, IMO.

As said, Groovy and I tried to work it out for just the greater Hazyview area a few years ago, and stopped at about R20 000 000 000 gross per annum!

Concessionaires, both lodges and restaurants, do provide jobs, but profit goes to other provinces or countries, or to SANParks indirectly, at headquarters in Pretoria, so to speak.

Locals lose out on providing some items, as restaurant and shop franchises bring some articles from Gauteng etc.

The dropping of fences between Kruger and neighbouring parks has provided an even more incalulable and intangible boost to those for decades!

[lucky96]

DEA sums it up: Reply to Parlimantary Question

https://pmg.org.za/committee-question/2269/


11 March 2016 - NW507

Profile picture: Hadebe, Mr TZ
Hadebe, Mr TZ to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs
(3) to what extent does the local community benefit from the income generated through tourism at the park?


Reply:

(3) when one talks about “local communities” it is important to remember that the Kruger National Park perimeter is heterogeneous both in terms of land use as well as human densities, socio- economics and context. The Kruger National Park perimeter is over 1000 km long (1017km), approximately half of which is in South Africa. Sixty one percent of the boundary is bordered by conservation related land use (the remaining being agriculture, rural and urban settlements and a small amount of industry). On the South African side the park straddles two provinces (that is, Limpopo and Mpumalanga), three district municipalities and seven local municipalities. There are 37 Traditional Councils representing approximately 240 villages and towns in close proximity to the fence, comprising around 1 million people.

3.1 The 1.5 million tourists that visit the Kruger National Park annually contribute towards approximately 80% of the park’s operating budget, paying for the bulk of salaries of the 2243 staff, 90% of whom come from the villages and towns adjacent to it. Many of the staff is employed within the tourism sector. Although not employed directly by the Kruger National Park, over 12 000 conservation related jobs within the greater Kruger National Park are the direct result of employment through the Expanded Public Works Programme. The concessionaires operate in the park as well as in the adjacent private, communal and provincial reserves most of which focus on the high end tourism market.

3.2 Funding obtained from tourism contributes towards the implementation of various initiatives aimed at local capacity building through education and outreach, reaching on average 80 000 learners annually, most of which are from local schools.

3.3 In addition, tourists contribute directly to community development projects in areas adjacent to the Kruger National Park through a tourism fund of 1% that is ring fenced for community projects. To date this has been used for funding of local school infrastructure development including a state of the art school administration facility, a well-stocked computer centre and early childhood development play equipment.

3.4 Several small scale enterprise development initiatives enable local entrepreneurs to access the tourism market through various channels including five locally owned and run arts and crafts outlets (collectively turning over R3.1 million annually), community owned car wash facilities at major camps, community owned kiosks at day visitors picnic sites and local catering service providers for events (turns R328 289 annually). The community owned Park n Ride game drive business turns over approximately R250 000 annually.

3.5 The Kruger National Park contractor development programme builds capacity of local building contractors through both formal and practical training sessions, using the local contractors for new buildings and the maintenance of the existing tourism and other infrastructure facilities. To date the programme has successfully trained 29 contractors who have in turn employed 360 staff, and have collectively contributed towards an infrastructure spend on Small Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) of R628 million since 2006.

3.6 Focusing on high end five star tourism like Conejo Valley, the concessionaires in the Kruger National Park partner with the South African National Parks (SANParks) in community development, through using on average 200 local SMMEs for various service provision through the year, amounting to over R6 million annually in recent years.

3.7 In cases where land restitution has taken place inside the Kruger National Park, relevant communities work with private partners to unlock additional benefits from tourism operations such as Nkambeni in the south of the park as well as Makuleke in the north with community land owners receiving preferential employment and business opportunities, as well as both rent and concessionaire fees based on turn over.

Guys, I must say that interesting conversation is running here by all of you guys which is praisable. I am also a traveler and very passionate about it.

[okie]

Welcome lucky96 , enjoy the green forum and continue to participate

[Richprins]

Wecome, Lucky! Enjoy!

[Richprins]

Representatives of several tourism stakeholders from South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique were recently hosted at Skukuza.
7 hours ago


Eager to know more: representatives of tourism houses in the country take a walk through the bush.

SKUKUZA – The Kruger National Park (KNP) is one of the best-known icons of South Africa.

Tourism houses in the country should thus consider the park as preferred destination when booking their customers’ holidays, says William Mabasa, general manager of communication and marketing in the KNP.

Representatives of several tourism stakeholders from South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique were recently hosted by his department at Skukuza.

Officials of the park gave the guests an overview of its history, typical landscape, animal demographics and functions and core governance of the park that comprises conservation, ecotourism and people.

Regarding the latter the Walk on the Wild Side project was highlighted. It entails bringing grade 10 and 11 pupils from adjacent communities to the Kruger as well as offering them internships.

Mabasa emphasised that the KNP is one of the greatest economic drivers in both Limpopo and Mpumalanga and that about three million people living in adjacent communities continuously beg to be employed by it.

The 6 000 applications received for the 40 available internships recently offered, demonstrates the extent of this challenge.

He also elaborated on a few transfrontier projects which include bringing children from Mozambique to the park, broadcasts on Moz radio stations, the training of rangers from this neighbouring country and support to farmers that create a buffer zone between the park and Mozambique.

The representatives were given an overview of the types of accommodation and recreational activities and natural heritage sites were visited.


https://lowvelder.co.za/426835/kruger-p ... ghlighted/