MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) – The Makhado Municipality has appointed STRISA (Sustainable Tourism Research Institute of Southern Africa) to compile a tourism development and marketing plan for the municipality.

This plan will not only examine how the natural, cultural and historical resources of the area could be developed into attractive new tourism products, but will also look at linkages between Makhado and other destinations in the region. Recommendations will also be made regarding the upgrading or "refreshing" of existing attractions to meet the ever-changing needs of the key market sectors that are or could be enticed to visit the region.

All ward councillors will be invited to a workshop during June in order to gather information on what resources in the more rural areas may have some potential for future development and utilization.

In addition, a workshop for local tourism operators will be held later in June to secure inputs from the private sector regarding their expectations for the future, and any possible areas of concern.

The STRISA team will be led by Mike Gardner, who has extensive experience in tourism development planning at provincial and local government level. Other team members involved include Vincent Carruthers (environmental and cultural heritage resource matters), Robin Gardner (market research and database issues), Josephine Letsoalo, Isaac Rambauli and James Ndhlovu (community tourism matters), Glen Steyn (economic planning), Udo Küssel (cultural and archaeological issues) and Jan Joubert (local liaison and marketing).

A very important component of this tourism plan will be to ensure that it links effectively with the Limpopo Tourism Growth Strategy currently being presented to all district municipalities in the province by the Department of Finance and Economic Development.

Any person wanting additional information or wishing to make inputs into the plan should contact either Jan Joubert at Tel (015) 516 4717 or Mike Gardner at (015) 276 4807.