Revamped Midmar Dam Resort launched in bid to boost Tourism

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16-09-2022
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IOL
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Revamped Midmar Dam Resort unveiled as Tourism Month begins.

The launch of the revamped Midmar Dam Resort, one of the forgotten treasures of the Midlands, was a fitting way to kick off Tourism Month with a splash on Thursday at Midmar Dam.

Tourism KwaZulu-Natal, in partnership with the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, is reigniting the province’s tourism programme this month under the theme “Rethink tourism”.

The start of Tourism Month, focusing on rebuilding the tourism industry post Covid-19, coincided with the unveiling of the multi-million Rand project to revamp the Midmar Dam Resort to its former glory and raise it to international standards.

Revamped Midmar Dam Resort unveiled

Speaking at the tourism launch, EDTEA head of department Nhlakanipho Nkontwana said the province is well on the road to recovering tourism, noting that a large portion of tourists currently contributing to the industry’s growth are locals.

“South African travellers and domestic tourists have learned of the sector’s recovery and continue to be the backbone of our industry, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal. We need to produce exciting products to bring to the province. We are well on the road to recovery and we anticipate that we could beat our pre-Covid-19 tourism figures. These estimates give us an indication that what we are doing is right and we should continue in that path,” he said.

Hotel occupancy in the province is also showing an upward trend, and equal to what it was in 2019. Umngeni Tourism chairperson JP Prinsloo said they have some of the exciting things happening in Umngeni Tourism.

What we have done as a local tourism organisation is to look at our environment and see what we can do to add value to you as product holders. Our strategy is to create our own tourism nodes within the municipality and offer six different experiences from areas that have a unique offering. These include Hilton, Mpophomeni, Howick, Curry’s Post, Karkloof as well as Dargle and Nottingham Road area. Each of these areas has their unique identity

Tourism relies in maintaining clean and safe communities

Umngeni Municipality Mayor Chris Pappas said tourism relies in maintaining clean and safe communities.

“We cannot have tourism if our communities are not clean, safe, modern and moving with the times, and if our rural areas are not accessible via good roads.

“We cannot have tourism if we don’t get in front of modern marketing techniques. We need to remember that people who are impacted the most are our communities. We need to put the money where our mouth is as government,” he said.

Umngeni Municipality mayor Chris Pappas (left) and Umngeni Tourism chairperson JP Prinsloo at the launch of tourism month at Midmar Dam.