Kaya Mntsantsa<\/p>\n
Three provinces \u2013 the Free State, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape \u2013 today launched a historic Tri-Province Tourism Cooperation aimed at growing the tourism industry across their shared borders. The launch was held in Colesberg and was led by Northern Cape MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism Venus Blennies, together with Free State MEC for Finance, Tourism and Economic Development Ketso Makume and Eastern Cape MEC for Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism Nonkqubela Pieters.<\/p>\n
The initiative, spearheaded by MECs Makume, Blennies and Pieters, recognises that tourists experience destinations as connected journeys rather than provincial boundaries. By positioning the three provinces as one tourism region centred around the iconic Lake Gariep, the cooperation seeks to promote domestic travel, strengthen regional partnerships, increase visitor numbers, support tourism enterprises and maximise the impact of limited marketing resources.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the launch, Northern Cape MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism Venus Blennies said the collaboration marks a new chapter for regional tourism:\u00a0“This pioneering collaboration is about breaking down provincial boundaries and selling one destination. Tourists don’t see borders, they see experiences. By positioning the Free State, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape as one tourism region around Lake Gariep, we will promote domestic travel, support our tourism enterprises, and ensure that tourism spend benefits our communities. This is how we turn our shared heritage and landscapes into inclusive economic growth,” said MEC Blennies.<\/p>\n
MEC Blennies added that the programme announced by the three MECs included an official Tourism Month Media Launch followed by a multi-day hosted media familiarisation showcasing diverse tourism offerings across the three provinces. Through partnerships with municipalities, tourism associations and the private sector, the initiative is expected to generate significant national media exposure while encouraging longer stays and increased tourism spend.<\/p>\n
The Eastern Cape MEC highlighted tourism opportunities in the Eastern Cape, from the Wild Coast, Adventure and Frontier Country to cultural heritage and township tourism, and welcomed the move to create joint itineraries that connect the three provinces.<\/p>\n
The Free State MEC highlighted the Free State’s leisure, heritage and events tourism offerings, including the Gariep Dam, Golden Gate Highlands and the province’s cultural festivals, and said collaboration would make travel more affordable and accessible through joint packages under Sho’t Left.<\/p>\n
The three MECs said they will use Tourism Month, celebrated annually in September, to promote inter-provincial travel routes, support SMME market access, and drive job creation in local communities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Kaya Mntsantsa Three provinces \u2013 the Free State, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape \u2013 today<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2351,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2347","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-current"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t