Mata-Mata To Boost Three-Way Cross-border Tourism

Business Reporter | Monday October 15, 2007 00:00

A statement jointly issued by the tourism ministries of the three participating countries of Botswana, Namibia and South Africa said the tourist facility will ease cross-border tourism and strengthen regional cooperation.

Presidents Festus Mogae of Botswana, Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia and Thabo Mbeki of South Africa officially opened the facility on Friday.

'The opening of Mata-Mata and the Sendelingsdrift Tourist Access facility are key to the strategy (of) desert tourism which explores the natural linkage between Kgalagadi and Ai/Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier parks, South Africa's Augrabies Falls National Park and the soon-to-be-declared Sperregebiet National Park in Namibia,' said the statement signed by Tiro Kganela of Botswana, Linda Baker of Namibia and Mava Scott of South Africa.

Africa's first cross-border park, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park was opened seven years and five months ago by the Presidents of Botswana and South Africa.

Mata-Mata will enable tourists to travel between the three countries via shorter routes and through efficient and convenient border control facilities.

Since South Africa is committed to making the 2010 FIFA World Cup an African event, Mata-Mata will also see the region benefiting from football's premiere razzmatazz, thus fostering regional socio-economic development.

Southern Africa's trans-frontier conservation areas are well positioned as key international destinations to ensure their profitability and sustainability during 2010 and beyond.

The Kgalagadi TFP incorporates the Gemsbok National Park in Botswana and the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park in South Africa. It is a popular tourist destination because of its 4 x 4 wilderness trails. After Giriyondo, which links Mozambique and South Africa within the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, Mata-Mata is the second tourist access facility to be opened to ease tourist movement in a trans-frontier park in southern Africa.

The next tourist access facility, Sendelingsdrift, will be opened on October 16 between Namibia and South Africa. The development of Mata-Mata and Sendelingsdrift Tourist Access facilities have also been exemplary of successful partnerships between governments and the private sector.