The MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Ketso Makume, will be launching the 2024 Tourism Month on 24 August 2024 at Tussen Die Riviere Nature Reserve near Bethulie in the Xhariep District Municipality to revive the tourism sector in the Free State.

There will be a variety of outdoor activities which will position the Free State as a preferred eco-tourism destination. Visitors will be exposed to an experience of the Caledon (Mohokare) and Orange (Senqu) rivers, which are located right inside the reserve.

As part of rebuilding the Free State tourism brand, the MEC will also launch the “Tourism Fridays” Programme, where each district will be visited by one tourism establishment on Fridays.

“These sessions will be used to engage with stakeholders on how to grow the tourism sector and explore opportunities with the tourism value chain in each district and across the province,” reads the report of the Free State department of economic, small business development, tourism, environmental affairs (Destea).

“We commit to reposition the Free State Tourism sector to be at the centre of economic reconstruction and recovery to create much-needed jobs. It is for this reason that we urge potential domestic and international visitors to continue visiting and exploring our province as their preferred destination of choice. The Free State connects six provinces and the Kingdom of Lesotho,” said MEC Makume.

The MEC further urged the people of the Free State to explore their province to discover and experience its hidden gems.

“Destea’s resorts and reserves across the province offer unforgettable experiences at low cost, chalets, braai and picnic areas, camping sites, game driving and fishing for all demographics and year-end functions,” the report read further.

Compiled by Phalimo Moeketsi