Turn your homes into tourist havens
Limpopo government imbizo aims to unlock Giyani’s tourism potential
Giyani, near the Kruger National Park, has that laid-back vibe from the heart of old Africa. A little, bustling town smack in the middle of peaceful rural villages characterised by brightly painted conical mud thatched huts.
Its residents — particularly the elderly women — add colour to the evergreen surroundings in their multi-coloured xibelane, a traditional Tsonga dress.
It is also home to a rich cuisine of traditional dishes that include the popular matomani widely known as mopani worms, tihove, tshopi, vuswa bya mavele, xigwimbi, vukanyi and xigugu.
But the town is yet to fulfill its full potential as a tourist destination. Interim CEO of the Limpopo Tourism Agency Bibi Kotsedi said the area has an acute shortage of tourism operators.
Kotsedi said this, however, is a perfect opportunity for locals to get training in this field and create employment opportunities, while also helping to unlock the tourism potential of the area.
“We are all potential tourism operators,” Kotsedi told the Township and Village Revitalisation imbizo in Giyani recently.
He said trends show that tourists have now moved away from staying in expensive hotels and are instead looking for an experience that offers a homely environment.
This includes a cultural experience where they can learn traditional practices and be exposed to new cuisine, arts and crafts.
The United Nations has proclaimed 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, in recognition of the tremendous potential of the tourism industry.
According to the United Nations Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), tourism accounts for over 10% of the world’s economic activity.
Unesco believes tourism can contribute to the fight against poverty and foster mutual understanding and intercultural dialogue.
“Turn your homes into accommodation facilities as a first step to enter the tourism market,” said Kotsedi.
He said Giyani has a vibrant culture, which should be exploited to attract tourists to the area.
Kotsedi said landlocked areas such as Giyani can compete with coastal areas in attracting large numbers of visitors if marketed correctly.
Some of the main attractions in Giyiani include the Man’ombe Nature Reserve, where visitors can learn about local history and enjoy viewing game such as kudu, mountain zebra, giraffe, crocodile, waterbuck and other antelope.
The reserve has chalets and a caravan park where visitors can put up for the night after a long day of viewing the sights.