Tourism stakeholders in Mpumalanga have welcomed the progress made in upgrading key roads leading to attractions along the province’s Panorama Route and the Kruger National Park.
The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) is upgrading over 200km of road networks in the province over the next three years at a cost of over R12 billion (US$693 million).
A delegation from the National Council of Provinces and SANRAL visited the upgraded R540 road linking the towns of eMakhazeni (Belfast) and Dullstroom on November 19.
The Mpumalanga Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport has additionally established a Tourism Route Programme that will focus on completing work on the R536 road linking Hazyview and Sabie, upgrading the road leading to Lone Creek Falls and improving access to the Manyeleti Nature Reserve.
“This is a major victory for everyone who believes in Mpumalanga’s tourism potential. For too long the province has spoken beautifully about tourism being a priority while key access roads crumble,” said Oupa Pilane, Special Attaché for Tourism Development at the Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism.
