Speaking at the launch of the Kai Garib Caravan Park in Keimoes, Northern Cape, Deputy Minister Tokozile Xasa said "Tourism brings entrepreneurship opportunities, creates employment and has the potential of alleviating poverty in rural communities." More than five hundred members of the local community and tourism business owners attended the event to witness the ribbon cutting ceremony and the official handover of the Caravan Park to the Kai Garib Municipality.
The Caravan Park is a Social Responsibility Implementation (SRI) project funded by the Department of Tourism under the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). It is envisaged that the park will create employment opportunities and develop a vibrant, equitable and sustainable economy that will assist the local community to share in the benefits of tourism.
“Some of South Africa’s top tourism destinations, national parks, and cultural sites are located in rural areas and yet these areas are the hardest hit by poverty and unemployment. When we invest in infrastructure projects such as this park, it is with the view of bringing tourism closer to rural communities, boosting the local economy and ultimately creating jobs that will alleviate poverty,” said Xasa.
Through SRI, the Department promotes the growth of tourism products through infrastructure developments in rural tourism nodes to ensure economic empowerment, sector transformation, and the transfer of skills to local communities.
41 people from the surrounding communities were employed and paid stipends during the construction of the park. The construction includes perimeter fencing, paved pedestrian walkway, ablution blocks, conference hall, reception, caretaker office and tuck shop, landscaping, water supply and reticulation, 36 parking bays, swimming pool and area lighting and recreation equipment.
Kai Garib mayor, Marius Louw, thanked the Department for bringing tourism closer to the people of Keimoes. “We are honoured to have been bestowed as custodians of this tourism facility. We will embrace it and utilise it to advance tourism in our area,” said Louw.
