Kirstenbosch attracts one million visitors

Source: Wikipedia

This is according to the Minister of Tourism, Derek Hanekom, who recently visited the garden with the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organisation of the United Nations (UNWTO), Taleb Rifai, and the president and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), David Scowsill, and Western Cape MEC for Tourism, Alan Winde.

"The milestone achieved by Kirstenbosch is a tribute to the hard work and vision of the South African National Biodiversity Institute," said Hanekom. He said South Africa's botanical gardens provided a window on South Africa's rich natural heritage, exposing visitors to the country's biodiversity.

Value of biodiversity

Rifai underscored this, adding that the value of biodiversity for tourism was immeasurable. "Sustainability and tourism are not a zero sum game," said Rifai. "In fact, tourism can be one of the more effective tools for conservation by providing resources for environmental preservation, but also by raising awareness among millions of people every year of the immense value of our natural heritage and our common responsibility to protect it. Kirstenbosch is an example of excellence of how tourism and biodiversity can build a beneficial partnership and contribute to a more sustainable economic model."

Scowsill said he was struck by the enduring legacy of Kirstenbosch's founding ethos. "Set up just over 100 years ago to protect South Africa's unique flora, it adheres to the same idea today, which has made it famous worldwide. Within our industry, travel and tourism must follow the same principles of heritage and conservation to ensure our long-term sustainable growth. WTTC's Tourism for Tomorrow programme celebrates the very best examples of sustainable tourism around the world, and I would hope that in 100 years some of our industry's most sustainable businesses are welcoming guests and admirers alike, just like Kirstenbosch," said Scowsill.

Tourism footprint

Hanekom pointed out that the conservation and biodiversity assets depend on tourism for their survival. The tourism footprint in conservation areas and botanical gardens generates the income to support sustainability of these assets. SANParks generated 85% of its operational costs through tourism revenue, while less than 1% of the Kruger National Park's two million hectares was dedicated to tourism infrastructure.

The income generated from tourism enabled SANParks to maintain its reputation as a world leader in the management of protected areas. In the case of SANBI, the gardens own income generated through tourism, comprises over 40% of their combined personnel and operational costs. The success of tourism underpins the sustainability of our conservation efforts.

SANBI CEO, Dr Tanya Abrahamse, said the opening last year of the Tree Canopy Walkway, or 'Boomslang' as it is known, had led to a surge in visitors, resulting in achieving the one million milestone for the first time in the garden's 102-year history. "The Tree Canopy Walkway has become a prime attraction as one of our legacy projects," said Dr Abrahamse.