Thousands of tourists flock to Limpopo every year as they seek a holiday of a lifetime in the Kruger National Park, and with less than a year to go until the FIFA World Cup, 2010 could see record visitors.
With such an influx of tourists to the country it is small wonder that the government has embarked on massive infrastructure programmes to prepare itself for the world class soccer event.
However, while the Western Cape and Gauteng offer visitors the urban sprawl, it is Limpopo that offers a unique experience to these visitors, with the opportunity to witness the big five in their natural habitat.
Tourism potential of Limpopo
The Kruger Park is already a major tourism attraction for the millions of visitors to South Africa each year wanting to spot the ‘Big Five’ however there is more to the country’s heritage than its wildlife.
The rich culture and history of the country also attracts its fair share of visitors. The country boasts seven World Heritage Sites, one of which is located in the Limpopo province.
Mapungubwe (Mapungubwe hill pictured on the right), which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003, is an Iron Age kingdom in the Limpopo Valley that dates back to between 1000 and 1300 AD.
Archaeologists have suggested the sites were once the capitals of mighty African kings.
The area also contains a significant number of San Rock Art sites dating back as much as fifteen thousand years ago.
Host status for 2010
Polokwane was awarded Host City status for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and is due to host five matches during the tournament. The Peter Mokaba Sports Complex is one of the five stadiums in the country that are being built from scratch to accommodate the tournament.
Following a major refurbishment last year, Polokwane International Airport was re-launched at the end of 2008, and now has the ability to cope with the expected influx of tourists to the region.
The strategic location of the airport not only provides visitors with a convenient route to the Kruger Park and the many cultural and historical sites in Limpopo, but also easy access to the wider southern African region.
For tourists that do want to venture further afield into Africa, Polokwane International Airport, the province’s main airport, provides easy access to Zambia, Zimbabwe and the white beaches of Mozambique.
More to Polokwane Airport than just planes
Gateway Airports Authority Limited (GAAL), the governing body overseeing Polokwane International Airport, is looking to diversify its revenue streams, curtailing its dependence on a purely aeronautical revenue stream.
The airport is already planning for growth in passenger air traffic and related activities, but is also looking to develop an Aero City, a cargo hub and related facilities to handle import and export circulation of goods and is also providing for the establishment of an aviation academy.
Polokwane Airport’s current business plan is to move away from simply being a terminal operator to becoming a business park manager. The airport is planning to feature the following:
The airport, which previously handled about 50,000 passengers a year, has been expanded to cope with 200,000 per year, and now has the capacity for two more airlines.
To be effective, the airport needs to obtain and retain an internationally acceptable status. To-date interest has been shown by various international investors for the further development and/or use of the airport.
For more information on the opportunities available at Polokwane International Airport contact parent company, Gateway Airports Authority Limited (GAAL):
Name: Shirley Mahanyele, Acting CEO of GAAL
Email: shirley.mahanyele@gaal.co.za
Tel: +27 15 288 0122
