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05 June 2006

Media Release: Double Honour for Addo Elephant National Park

Addo Elephant National Park celebrates once again this month after winning Professional Management Review (PMR) Golden Arrow Awards for Best Tourism Project and Best National Park in the Eastern Cape.

The awards are based on a survey conducted by PMR in January 2006 which collected 4 566 ratings from the Eastern Cape’s business, local government and provincial government sectors. Ratings are based on the perceptions of respondents, namely government department directors/deputy directors, CEOs/MDs, etc, on the following criteria: corporate governance, management, and actions taken to enhance economic growth and development in the province.

Addo Elephant National Park was highest rated in the category: Best Tourism Project in the Province and also received the highest overall rating (3.94 – equivalent to excellent-plus – out of a possible rating of 5) in the National Parks category.

The Awards were presented this morning at the prestigious Eastern Cape Leaders and Achievers Awards function at the Boardwalk in Port Elizabeth.

In 2005, Addo Elephant National Park was voted “Best Park” in the South African National Parks (SANParks) Kudu Awards for excellent performance in the three core business areas of SANParks: conservation, tourism and people & conservation.

The success of the Park is evident in its steadily increasing visitor numbers and occupancy figures. Visitor numbers increased by 5.61% from 132 734 in 2004/5 to 140 179 in 2005/6, while occupancy of park accommodation increased to 90.8% from the previous year’s 86.1%.

The Park fulfils an important role as an economic driver in the region, creating jobs and stimulating tourism. The large number of bed & breakfasts and private lodges clustered around the park are testament to this.

A programme to support small-, medium- and micro-enterprises (SMME’s) in the communities bordering the Park is well underway, with 48 of these SMME’s registered on the database. Many of these SMME’s are employed within the various poverty relief programmes running in the Park, creating jobs for 166 people at present.

With the Park’s ongoing expansion programme, further development and growth in the region is set to follow.

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Issued by: South African National Parks

Enquiries: Megan Bradfield
Social Ecologist/Communications
Addo Elephant National Park
Tel: (042) 233-0556 or 083 6508649
Email: [email protected]