Cape Argus, 23 August 2007, Edition 1, P.4
by Sivuyile Mangxamba

Key tourism stakeholders and local government authorities have given their support to the controversial N2 toll road along the environmentally sensitive Pondoland region of the Wild Coast, saying it was crucial for upliftment and development in the region.

SA Tourism chief executive Moeketsi Mosola said this week there was an urgent need to get the ball rolling on the project, which was proposed more than five years ago but had been repeatedly stalled because of environmental concerns.

Mosola publicly backed the road which will run from East London to Durban along the Wild Coast.

He was speaking at a Tourism Month launch in Qunu outside Mthatha in the Eastern Cape yesterday, where South African Tourism’s Sho’t Left campaign, aimed at increasing domestic travel, was launched.

The route would pass Port St Johns, Mkhambathi Nature Reserve near Flagstaff and run up to the Wild Coast Sun near Port Edward.

The current potholed routes to major resorts and attractions would also benefit from the project, which was approved in 2003, Mosola said.

“A large part of the Wild Coast is not accessible to tourism. We need to open it up responsibly,” said Mosola at Qunu.

The project has the support of the local tourism and local government authorities, which want to drive the development of this area of the Eastern Cape. The has had a high rate of unemployment since the mining industry downsized and retrenched several thousands of migrant workers.

Asked if this would not jeopardise the sensitive biodiversity of Pondoland, Mosola said there was a need to create a balance between the development and environmental conservation.

“It’s not either or,” said Mosola, adding that proper environment measures were important but so was development. “It is in this context that we need to understand the debate. Large parts of the Wild Coast are inaccessible.”

Department of Environment and Tourism director general Pamela Yako said a careful balancing act would allow development to go ahead while protecting the coastline.

“We will ensure greater levels of protection, but we have to ensure that development goes ahead,” said Yako.

The Eastern Cape is increasingly focusing on the roads that lead to tourist attractions, as the province is trying to open up the province, especially the Wild Coast, to more visitors.

The OR Tambo district municipality along the east coast of the Transkei area has also put its weight behind the bid to push ahead with road construction in the area.

“We believe that road will be built there.

“We want it built but we must ensure that the environment is not jeopardised,” said the chairperson for Finance and Economic Development in the OR Tambo district municipality, Lizwi Nduku.

“You can’t talk about tourism if you are not talking about development,” said Nduku.

The road transport plan was expected to increase sustainable economic development in the region while also realising the potential of tourism.

The Wild Coast was also expected to be aggressively marketed and package tours would be introduced to make the destination attractive, said Bisiwe.

The area was effectively a long haul destination to visitors from up north, he said.

Discussions were also under way to introduce more flights to the Wild Coast and upgrade the Mthatha Airport, Mosola said.

The talks were at an exploratory stage with the national Department of Transport, he said.

Posted on August 23rd, 2007
Filed under: Newspaper and Media