Tourism Update reader, Kobus Basson, has pointed out in a letter to the editor that many of South Africa’s roads – including those leading to prime tourism destinations and cultural heritage sites – are a barrier to tourism.
He is not alone in his sentiments, with many industry members raising this issue over the years. We’d like to hear from our readers if they share Basson’s concerns, highlighting where the problems are, the impact it will likely have on tourism and how (and by whom) this should be addressed.
Email: adelem@nowmedia.co.za
Here is Basson’s letter in full:
“I see that there are a lot of efforts in getting tourism back on track in this COVID pandemic period. This includes marketing campaigns.
However, I must share a bad experience with you. My wife and I booked a holiday for a week at Mount Champagne Resort in the Drakensberg, KwaZulu Natal.
The roads between Bergville and Winterton and Winterton and the mountains are in a shocking condition. I lost a tyre as well as a rim because of all the potholes in the road. Not to mention the damage to the shock absorbers of the car. The potholes nearly caused a head-on collision. This was not a joke.
Tourism associations must really put pressure on the local authorities to fix the roads, otherwise the marketing campaigns will mean nothing.
This region is a World Heritage Area. I am embarrassed to be South African should foreigners see how we are looking after our assets/roads.
I have tried to reach some tourism associations in the Drakensberg area (on the Internet) but the emails came back undelivered.”
