Picture: The North West MEC for DEDECT, Bitsa Lenkopane
By BAKANG MOKOTO
8 July 2026 – The North West MEC for Department of Economic Development, Environment (DEDECT), Bitsa Lenkopane has outlined a bold programme of action to position tourism as a leading driver of jobs, investment and community development, while strengthening the biodiversity economy and accelerating environmental compliance and waste management reforms in the 2026/27 financial year. Lenkopane who recently tabled the Department’s Budget Vote said, the budget reflects a deliberate shift towards unlocking the full economic potential of the province’s tourism assets.
She further emphasised that tourism remains one of the most powerful engines for inclusive growth in the province, adding that the budget ensures that natural and cultural assets are converted into real and tangible opportunities for communities. Lenkopane added that the department’s tourism programme takes centre stage, anchored by a structured tourism commercialisation programme aimed at unlocking the economic value of provincial tourism and conservation assets.
“This model is designed to attract private-sector investment into underutilised facilities while ensuring that ownership remains with the people of the North West. Through this approach, the province has already received investment proposals and projects valued around R1.8 billion progressed through due diligence, investor capability assessments and compliance processes.
“We are not only attracting investment, but we are deliberately restructuring the tourism economy in a way that places communities at the centre of ownership and benefit-sharing. The commercialisation framework ensures that communities participate directly in tourism development through structured shareholding arrangements linked to assets located on or near their land,” she said.
Lenkopane said, moreover, her department continues to strengthen tourism as a key contributor to the provincial economy. She said during the 2025/26 financial year, tourism generated an estimated R10.9 billion, supported approximately 9242 jobs and benefited 344 tourism enterprises.
“The province also recorded over 4.17 million domestic tourists and approximately 462 463 international arrivals, reflecting sustained recovery and continued growth. In addition, the department has allocated R70 million towards tourism development and promotion in the 2026/27 financial year.
“This allocation will support destination marketing, investment promotion, tourism safety, heritage tourism, youth employment and enterprise development. The department is intensifying collaboration with North West University (NWU) to reposition the Mahikeng and Taung hotel schools as accredited hospitality training centres,” said Lenkopane.
She further noted that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sun City is being finalised to create structured pathways for experiential learning, internships and employment opportunities. Lenkopane said they are deliberately building bridges between training and employment so that the young people do not remain outside the tourism economy.
“Adding to that, engagements with Sun City will facilitate the placement of 81 hospitality and tourism graduates, strengthening the pipeline from education to work opportunities. The department has also profiled 562 accommodation establishments, confirming 6614 rooms and 12 676 beds, with capacity exceeding 4.1 million visitors annually.
The Guardian 