Tourism stakeholders in Mpumalanga have identified undocumented foreign nationals, crime, and governance challenges as major obstacles to unlocking the province's tourism potential. Speaking at the Mpumalanga Tourism Expo, Southern Africa Tourism Services Association national chairperson Oupa Pilane emphasized the need for stronger migration enforcement to address these challenges. He cited the killing of two tourists in the Kruger National Park as an example of the complexities faced by law enforcement in tracing suspects.
Pilane noted that communities along the South Africa-Mozambique border have historically moved between the two countries due to colonial-era borders. However, challenges arise when authorities need to enforce the law, particularly in cases where undocumented migrants are involved. He commended the South African Police Service for apprehending two Mozambican suspects in the Kruger National Park case, but cautioned against blaming undocumented foreign nationals for crime in the tourism sector.
According to Pilane, Mpumalanga recorded 2.7 million visitors in 2025, but tourism spending remained low, accounting for only 8% of the total available for spending. This means that for every R100 visitors had available to spend, only R8 was being spent in the province. Pilane attributed this to governance and visitor economy challenges, which hinder the province's ability to translate tourism into serious economic growth.
Pilane identified significant tourism potential in Mpumalanga, but noted that barriers prevent visitors from spending more money and staying longer in the province. He emphasized the need to address these barriers to unlock tourism's potential to drive economic growth, job creation, poverty alleviation, and enterprise development. This, he believes, can be achieved by sorting out the identified barriers to translating tourism into economic growth.
The tourism sector in Mpumalanga also faces skills shortages, particularly in management. Pilane noted that businesses in the province had previously agreed that no more than 15% of their employees should be non-South Africans and that those employees should bring specific skills. He urged the tourism sector to work more closely with universities to ensure graduates have skills that match industry needs.
Pilane emphasized that stronger migration enforcement is crucial to addressing crime and unlocking the province's economic potential. He called for effective management of migration, enforcement of migration laws, and ensuring that people entering or leaving the province are legally present. This, he believes, will help to address the challenges facing the tourism sector.
The tourism sector in Mpumalanga has the potential to drive economic growth, job creation, and poverty alleviation, but it requires a concerted effort to address the identified challenges. Pilane's call for stronger migration enforcement and effective governance is a step towards unlocking the province's tourism potential. Key to this is collaboration between stakeholders, including government, businesses, and universities, to ensure that the sector is able to reach its full potential.
Key points
- Tourism stakeholders in Mpumalanga are calling for stronger migration enforcement to address crime and unlock the province's economic potential.
- The province recorded 2.7 million visitors in 2025, but tourism spending remained low, accounting for only 8% of the total available for spending.
- The tourism sector faces skills shortages, particularly in management, and requires collaboration with universities to ensure graduates have skills that match industry needs.
