News

Skukuza: Particulars of an inaugural Tourism Investment Summit in SA national parks were announced at South African National Parks (SANParks) today, 18 February 2017. The summit, which is to be hosted by SANParks, will be held at The Maslow Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg on 27 March 2017.

Fundisile Mketeni, Chief Executive Officer of SANParks says the inaugural Tourism Investment Summit organised by SANParks will strive to present new investment opportunities, attract developers and financiers and profile national parks in South Africa as viable investment hubs. “National parks offer potential investors with an unparalleled diversity of opportunities in various disciplines which includes, adventure activities, eco-tourism properties, retail and many more.”

He said, as far back as the year 2000, SANParks adopted a Commercialisation Strategy with a firm objective of establishing Private Public Partnerships (PPP”s) initiatives which has resulted in a two-tiered approach leading primarily to the granting of concessions for the construction and management of Eco-tourism lodges and the outsourcing of retail shops and restaurants…”this led to a significant funding of conservation and creating sustainability for SANParks.”

The summit hopes to attract key decision-makers in tourism investments, which includes financiers, lenders, developers, tourism retail and services operators, bankers, investment advisors, real estate, property consultants, financial intermediaries, government tourism officials and media.

According to Mketeni, since the year 2000 with the adoption of the Commercialisation Strategy, SANParks has progressively increased the numbers of PPP”s transactions. “By March 2016 there were more than forty-five PPP projects in active implementation leading to infrastructural developments worth over R755 million with assets reverting to SANParks. Commercialisation has resulted in a total PPP Income of R816 million to SANParks.”

“In a concerted effort to capture tourism growth and create long term sustainability for the organisation whose primary mandate is the conservation of biodiversity and cultural heritage of South Africa, SANParks seeks to engage and interact with the current and potential investors and this summit to provide insight into future plans as far as PPP investments in national parks are concerned,” concludes Mketeni.

For more information on the SANParks Tourism Investment Summit visit www.SANParksSummit.co.za

Issued By

South African National Parks (SANParks) Corporate Communications
Tel: 012 426 4170

Media Enquiries

William Mabasa
SANParks, Acting Head of Communications
Tel: 012 426 5170; Cell: 082 807 3919
Email: [email protected]

Reynold “Rey” Thakhuli
SANParks GM: Media, PR & Stakeholder Relations
Tel: 012 426 5203; Cell: 073 373 4999
Email: [email protected]