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Visitors encouraged to spend time in NC

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“Our message to the visitors is to take a road trip to the Northern Cape this summer and create long lasting holiday memories”

WITH school holidays and the festive season break fast approaching, the Northern Cape will be encouraging visitors to spend a day or more in the Province and experience the iconic summer offerings available.

“Either traveling from Johannesburg to Cape Town or vice versa, the Northern Cape roads are well maintained and travelers can take their time and reach their destination without being in a rush, whether they are travelling on the N12, N14, N1, N7, N18 and R63 roads.

“The Province offers great accommodation establishments from all five regions, friendly people with rich culture, historic monuments, delicious local food, beautiful scenery and open landscapes every traveler would not like to miss,” Experience Northern Cape’s Tebogo Velembo, said yesterday.

The MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Maruping Lekwene, has also extended his welcome to the visitors during the Summer holidays.

“The Northern Cape is welcoming all the visitors coming to spend their summer holidays in the Northern Cape, we further invite our visitors to make time and visit our tourist attractions and offerings. Summer is the perfect time to know your country, know your province. Our message to the visitors is to take a road trip to the Northern Cape this summer and create long lasting holiday memories”, Lekwene stated.

At the recent National Lilizela Tourism Awards held last weekend in Pretoria, the Northern Cape proved that its tourism products are among the best in the country.

The event was attended by Lekwene, who applauded the Northern Cape tourism products for their achievements at the event.

The Naba Lodge from Upington won a double award in the categories of Guest House-2 Star and Events Venue 3-Star.

Owner, Eva Ilse Basson, said at the event: “We are overwhelmed about winning the awards, this achievement brings us hope that we will attract more clients to our establishment and grow the business to meet the economic hard times we are faced with to survive”.

The 38-year-old Ilse is a business partner with her 53-years-old mother, Elbie Basson who suffered a stroke four months ago and could not attend the ceremony.

Another winner, also from Upington, the River Place Manor Guest House, took the award for Guest House 5-Star category.

“This has been a great awards ceremony. We are very proud to have won. We are sitting on the mighty Orange River and on a site that we wish to share with the rest of South Africa, we cannot hide away,” said Pieties Lange, the owner of River Place Manor Guest House.

The Workshop ko Kasi of Mothibistad in Kuruman won the award in the category of Culture & Lifestyle. This trendy township business offers authentic African experiences, Kasi Cafe Workspace, laundromat, African Eco Spa Culture and Nature, tours and events. The Workshop ko Kasi is a versatile space that currently houses a tea and books shop.

“Taking into consideration how unique and authentic our business is, it gives us great pleasure to win the visitor experience in the culture and lifestyle category because it reinforces that times are indeed changing and there is now much room in society for innovative and sustainable tourism businesses.

“We are all about the people and place, which translates into cultural experiences and creative environments. This award is more fuel in our quest to develop our communities through tourism and art,” said Mpho Cornelius of Workshop ko Kasi.

Touch Let’s Go from Kimberley was given a recognition for being one of the emerging tour operators during the award ceremony. “The prospects look good for our small tour operator business, the recognition we received gives us the strength to up our game and compete with the best in the tourism industry. We appreciate the honour and these will give the courage to achieve more in future”, Comet Motimela of Touch Let’s Go, said.

Established in 2013, the Lililzela Tourism Awards are an initiative of the National Department of Tourism and are spearheaded by South African Tourism. The awards recognise and reward exemplary service among businesses in the local tourism sector, ranging from accommodation establishments and tour operators to scenic attractions and cultural heritage sites. The Lilizela awards are adjudicated through public votes and by a panel of industry judges, and are audited by Nexia SAB&T.

Besides award-winning destinations, visitors seeking culture, nature and adventure experiences, the province boasts seven routes that offer self-tailored itineraries.

One of the highlights this summer is the hosting of the Kimberley Diamond Cup Action Festival from December 5 to 8. International, national and local skateboarders are expected to converge on Kimberley to show off their tricks.

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