Positive returns for Kruger Park
Dirk Nel
15 January 2004
The Kruger National Park has benefited from a number of commercialisation agreements struck with private sector partners over the past three years. The process has also provided meaningful business opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs from local communities adjacent to the park.
The initial phase of the overall business plan, according to South African National Parks (SANParks), involved the awarding of concessions to safari operators, caterers and shop management companies to ensure a consistent contribution to the park's annual budget.
Although the primary objective was to generate more revenue for SANParks, the commercialisation process was also carefully designed to encourage partnerships over a wide spectrum.
The average percentage of black shareholding among the concessionaires is 53%.
"In terms of the partnership agreements, concessionaires undertook to make sure that 79% of their employees would be historically
disadvantaged individuals, recruited from communities near the park, and they have successfully achieved this objective", SANParks head of commercialisation Peter Fearnhead said.
Fearnhead added that tourists had also experienced a marked improvement in the quality of products and services offered during their visits to the park.
At the same time, more funding had been secured for conservation, ensuring the continued sustainability of the park.
SANParks head of tourism Glenn Phillips recently released an assessment of the introduction of the Wild Card system, designed to reward regular park visitors.
Phillips said that almost 30 000 South Africans had become Wild Card holders, while the daily occupancy rate at tourist camps in Kruger and other national parks had increased dramatically since the scheme was launched in April 2003.
Source: BuaNews
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