De Lille Calls on West Rand, Including Merafong, to Submit Tourism Projects for Investors

MORAME is the regional tourism organisation whose name is derived from Mogale City, Rand West City and Merafong City. It brings the three West Rand municipalities together around a shared tourism strategy, which makes the conference directly relevant to Carletonville and Fochville.

What the minister asked for

De Lille said the West Rand had been shaped by mining, but that above ground there was an extraordinary concentration of natural, cultural and historical assets. She listed the Cradle of Humankind, the Magaliesberg, mining heritage, landscapes, wildlife, adventure, gastronomy, culture and communities with unique stories.

"The West Rand District Municipality itself recognises the need to develop a secondary economy alongside mining and identifies tourism as one of the opportunities around which that diversification can take place," De Lille said.

From attractions to a destination

She said the question for the conference was how to turn the region's tourism assets into a functioning regional visitor economy that attracts investment, creates businesses, increases visitor spending and supports livelihoods.

"A visitor does not experience municipal boundaries. They experience a destination," she said.

De Lille added that the Department of Tourism had recently convened the second South African Tourism Infrastructure Investment Summit, where 15 tourism infrastructure projects valued at R3.5 billion were presented to investors and financiers.

What this means for you

Tourism businesses, heritage sites and community projects in Merafong may want to watch for how MORAME and the municipality gather projects for the investor pipeline. Contact Merafong City Local Municipality or the West Rand District Municipality to ask how local projects can be put forward.

Source: West Rand District Municipality (Facebook), https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1402228655421418

Photo: West Rand District Municipality Facebook page