1. uThukela District Tourism Development Strategy 2012 The Department of Economic Development and Tourism funded the Review and Development of an uThukela Tourism Strategy in order to align to the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism Master Plan and National Tourism Sector Strategy. The intention of the strategy is to: Provide a framework that will guide tourism growth and development in a sustainable manner Promote greater economic development for the widest possible range of beneficiaries To facilitate tourism development initiatives Provide marketing directives Unlock the hidden tourism and economic potential of the area Provide a list of catalytic tourism projects Encourage private sector investment Create economic development, and Create sustainable job opportunities for the urban and rural communities

2. Overall Challenges Identified General lack of visitor statistics and inadequate knowledge management Lack of accommodation standards and grading Underdeveloped transport and ICT infrastructure and poor signage Poor and uncoordinated marketing and lack of district wide branding Weak institutional and organisational structures and lack of by-laws Lack of synergy between public and private stakeholders Cultural and heritage attractions not maintained Crime Lack of tour operators, local SMME development and transformation General decline in visitor numbers Limited product development Lack of integration with key organisations and surrounding districts Lack of community based initiatives and linkages with rural communities Limited range of facilities and activities Environmental impact of new developments Uneven tourism development (e.g. Indaka)

3. Key Intervention Areas Marketing – Experience driven tourism – expand on the brand of the district to local municipalities Institutional Capacitating and staffing Tourism Economic Infrastructure provision/upgrading/maintenance Route Development and Signage Tourism Information Centres Empower tourism stakeholders Monitoring and Evaluation data, including undertake research and development and tourism statistics and information Development Agency Upgrading of tourism channels (ICT) Product Development of niche tourism and enhance existing attractions + tourism Grading Create relationships with the MDRF, N3 Gateway and Open Africa

4. uThukela District Municipality Tourism Vision The vision statement is informed by major challenges highlighted by the situational analysis. The vision has been aligned with the national and provincial visions as well as the District IDP vision. The tourism vision which has been formulated is thus: In the next five years, uThukela will be a prime tourist destination offering a unique and diverse tourism experience anchored by the uKhahlamba - Drakensberg World Heritage Site and Battlefields with an increased domestic and foreign visitor base, linked to surrounding tourism attractions to actively contribute to the 2020 vision targets of the National Tourism Sector Strategy and KZN Tourism Master Plan. This will be achieved by nurturing holistic and responsible tourism development which stimulates job creation with a well-resourced and efficiently managed and transformed tourism sector through an integrated destination marketing mechanism.

5. The main defining tourism features of UThukela UKhahlamba – Drakensberg World Heritage Site Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Areas Maloti Drakensberg Trans Frontier Programme/Route Drakensberg Experience Route Battlefields

6. Attractions administered by EKZNW Local Municipality Attractions: Imbabazane LM – Giants Castle – Garden Castle Okhahlamba LM – Royal Natal National Park – Spioenkop Nature Reserve – Monks Cowl Nature Reserve – Didima UMtshezi LM – Wagendrift Nature Reserve – Weenen Nature Reserve

7. Tourism Goals and Strategies – Goal 1 The following strategies have been aligned with the KZN Tourism Master Plan: Strategic Cluster: Marketing- Develop an effective and efficient marketing system to increase visitor numbers into uThukela – Strategy 1.1: Improve general marketing in UThukela through varied marketing tools, information offices and adequate distribution – Strategy 1.2: Ensuring route development, branding and marketing cohesion

8. Tourism Goals and Strategies – Goal 2 Strategic Cluster: Product Development and Support Services- Establish and support key Product Development initiatives to enhance the diversity of tourism and to improve the perception of the tourism industry in uThukela and accommodate accessibility tourism and drive investment promotion – Strategy 2.1: Develop and Enhance Core nature based tourist experience aligned with KZN Tourism Master Plan (iconic natural scenic tourism experiences) – Strategy 2.2: Develop Niche Tourism Experiences to contribute to a diverse and unique tourist experience – Strategy 2.3: Enhance Tour Operating services, hospitality and accommodation to support the uThukela tourism industry – Strategy 2.4: Ensure Investment promotion of tourism in uThukela – Strategy 2.5: Enhance safety and security in the district to support crime free tourism in uThukela – Strategy 2.6: Promote and Accommodate Accessible tourism

9. Tourism Goals and Strategies – Goal 3 Strategic Cluster: People Development- To enrich the tourism industry role-players through skills enhancement and awareness, capacity building, SMME support and transformation and provision of a quality Tourism Experiences and service excellence. – Strategy 3.1: Encourage and ensure transformation of the uThukela tourism industry – Strategy 3.2: Stimulate a tourism culture through tourism awareness and education across the district – Strategy 3.3: Ensure Quality Tourist Experiences and service excellence

10. Tourism Goals and Strategies – Goal 4 Strategic Cluster: Tourism Infrastructure Investment Framework- To create a favourable built tourism environment to become conducive to growth and development and to boost investor confidence – Strategy 4.1: Maintain and upgrade Transport (road, air and rail), communication and Services infrastructure to create a conducive tourism environment – Strategy 4.2: Maintain and facilitate provision of Signage to direct visitors in and around uThukela

11. Tourism Goals and Strategies – Goal 5 Strategic Cluster: Policy, strategy, governance, research & knowledge management monitoring and evaluation- To create an enabling institutional environment through knowledge management, developing collaborative partnerships and producing planning and regulatory measures – Strategy 5.1: Enhance and develop tourism Research and Knowledge Management to facilitate organised and well managed tourism industry – Strategy 5.2: Enhance tourism through institutional arrangements, collaborative partnerships, communication and policy – Strategy 5.3: Promote responsible tourism and green principles in tourism development – Strategy 5.4: Provide a sustainable Planning framework to guide future tourism development and investment

12. List of Priority Projects with Concept Plans Project 1.2.1. Develop a district marketing and distribution strategy with a M&E system linked to tourist trends spurred by marketing initiatives, and campaigns, and seminars Project 1.2.6. Feasibility study and Business Plan for the establishment of a detailed tourism route for uThukela Project 2.3.4 Develop a themed tourism information node/Hub including a district craft hub with shops and job opportunities along N3 and N11 (or main tourism routes) to include an entertainment area /Centre Project 3.2.4 Facilitate the establishment of a hospitality and tourism training and development center in the district in partner with recognized tourism training centers with satellite offices Project 5.2.6. Develop a Regional Tourism Organization incorporating the District Tourism Forum Project 2.1.12. Investigate the development of a Cableway as an iconic signature project in line with the KZN Tourism Master Plan

13. Project Details Project 1.2.1. Develop a district marketing and distribution strategy with a M&E system linked to tourist trends spurred by marketing initiatives, and campaigns, and seminars – Funding: R200,000 for the strategy – Program: R500,000 (2013/14) R300,000 (2014/15) R300,000 (2015/16) R300,000 (2016/17)

14. Project Details Project 1.2.6. Feasibility study and Business Plan for the establishment of a detailed tourism route for uThukela – Funding:R350,000 – Program:R35,000 (2013/14) R105,000 (2014/15) R140,000 (2015/16) R70,000 (2016/17)

15. Project Details Project 2.3.4 Develop a themed tourism information node/Hub including a district craft hub with shops and job opportunities along N3 and N11 (or main tourism routes) to include an entertainment area /Centre – Funding:R600,000 (Planning) R3,500,00 (Execution) R1,400,00 (Operation)

16. Project Details Project 3.2.4 Facilitate the establishment of a hospitality and tourism training and development centre in the district in partner with recognized tourism training centres with satellite offices – Funding:R600,000 (Planning) R14,000,00 (Execution) R5,000,00 (Operation) R100,000/annum (Maintenance)

17. Project Details Project 5.2.6. Develop a Regional Tourism Organization incorporating the District Tourism Forum – Initial Funding:R300,000 – Annual Budget:R1,450,000 (2013/14) R750,000 (2014/15) R750,000 (2015/16) R750,000 (2016/17)

18. Project Details Project 2.1.12. Investigate the development of a Cableway as an iconic signature project in line with the KZN Tourism Master Plan – Dependent on external funding from DEDT (Department of Economic Development and Tourism)

19. uThukela Tourist Picture (2010) Tourism Focus : Drakensberg – Foreign visitors: 126 492, Spend R7 215/visitor, Total Spend R912 640 970, Staying 6.8 days – Domestic visitors: 295 148, Spend R710/vositor. Total Spend R209 555 353, Staying 4.5 days Battlefields – Foreign visitors: 36 475, Spend R7 215/visitor, Total Spend R263 167 269, Staying 2 days – Domestic visitors: 54 713, Spend R710/vositor. Total Spend R38 845 896, Staying 2 days Total – 512 828 trips (162 967 foreign and 349 869 Domestic) – R1.4 billion

20. Domestic consumer market breakdown to uThukela Market Segment Young and Upcoming FamiliesWell off homely couples Business Travellers Total Primary source origin Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape Gauteng, KZN KZN, Western Cape, Gauteng Gauteng, KZN Percentage split of tourists to uThukela 21%42%21%17%100% Average Annual Trips to uThukela 74 009146 53274 009 349 860

21. Baseline indicators for uThukela AreaBaseline GDP (Direct)R188 million (2% of district total) GDP (Direct & Indirect)R342.2 million Visitor numbers122 967 (Foreign Holiday) 40 000 (Foreign Business) 275 860 (Domestic Holiday) 74 000(Domestic Business) Employment (Direct)2 968 Employment (Direct & Indirect)4 544

22. Roles of District and Local Government in Tourism The role of the District is: Integrating provincial tourism objectives into District plans and priorities; Driving the development of and implementation of local tourism policy; Urban and rural planning and development of tourism products and services; Budget for the effective implementation and growth of tourism in line with the Provincial objectives; Allocate Institutional capacity and dedicated and skilled Human resources to perform tourism function; provision of local infrastructure; Creation and co-ordination of tourism experience routes across its district and beyond municipal boundaries; Providing Tourism support to entrepreneurs and investors

23. Role of the Local Government Integrating tourism policies into local economic development plans; Implementing local tourism policy; Maintenance of specific aspects of the tourism product at local level; Provision and maintenance of tourist services, sites and attractions and public services; Maintaining database of registered tourism products and service providers; Drive quality assurance Provision of local infrastructure; Health, safety, licensing and local by-law compliance; Local information services; Facilitate the participation of local communities in the tourism industry

24. Events Calender (Emnambithi)

26. Thank You