Speech by Marthinus van Schalkwyk, Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, delivered at the 2007 Kudu Awards, Pretoria

Our National Parks lie at the centre of our South African character. They reflect and strengthen our sense of place; they protect and support our unmatched biodiversity; and increasingly they anchor growth, job creation, and hope through tourism for our communities.

South African National Parks (SANParks) boasts 22 national parks with a combined terrestrial and aquatic estate of four million hectares. This estate encompasses at least four transfrontier parks, all of which involve international treaties with no less than five neighbouring countries.

This estate also includes the iconic Kruger National Park and two World Heritage Sites: versus Mapungubwe National Park and the Table Mountain National Park (included under the Cape Floristic Kingdom). National parks under SANParks' jurisdiction receive more than 3,4 million visitors annually.

Tourism

The 2007 SANParks Kudu Awards takes place hot on the heels of the 2007 South Africa Tourism Indaba which ended in Durban just last week. This year's Indaba was attended by a record number of visitors and exhibitors and surpassed the anticipated 12 000 visitor mark.

South Africa's tourism statistics tell a very impressive story that speaks to the success of our country in capturing the interest of the world and capitalising on that interest by attracting ever increasing numbers of international tourists. Nearly 8,4 million international tourists visited South Africa in 2006. We attracted over a million more tourists in 2006 than in 2005.

Looking back over a longer time period, you can clearly see how much we have achieved. In 1993, just 13 years ago, we had just over three million visitors. In order to keep tourists coming to South Africa our undertaking to the world must be one of exceptional quality, unrivalled experiences, and world-beating value-for-money. Our shared responsibility is to ensure and to demand tourism products that sustain and support our communities, our environment and our future.

2010 SANParks is going to be among major role players in the provision of a total 'African World Cup' experience to the thousands of visitors expected to attend the 2010 World Cup.

SANParks has already signed up with Federation International Football Association (FIFA) match to provide accommodation units for utilisation during the World Cup. Furthermore, the organisation is also exploring the option to sell packages, through MATCH which will ensure that the visitors not only go to soccer matches, but also take time off to visit and experience the splendour and beauty of our national parks.

In the event that SANParks is called on to provide more accommodation units than are currently available in its inventory, the organisation has made provisions to erect, at short notice, tented accommodation to meet any demands that may be placed on the facilities. Provision of services in national parks throughout the 2010 World Cup tournament will occur with very minimal disruption to domestic visitors, who remain the organisation's backbone.

Kudu Awards

The Kudu Awards is an excellent way of emphasising the importance of the value of our human capital and recognising men, women and institutions who have been contributing of their time, ideas, resources and many other useful and creative ways to ensure the success of conservation in our country.

Countries the world over are facing challenges in terms of managing their natural heritage because of scarcity of resources. Conservation is a worthwhile business though a very expensive one. This is the business of forever and you do not get into such a business expecting to derive profits, because profits are by their nature exhaustive.

South African National Parks is probably one of very few organisations in the world who are able to generate a sizeable income from their tourism operations, to subsidise conservation. This is not always enough and to have you assisting us in such a commendable way is something that should be welcomed.

Thank you to one and all of you. Enjoy the evening!

Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
21 May 2007