MPUMALANGA – From ancient geological landscapes and heritage sites to dam cruises, community attractions and conservation areas, Mpumalanga’s diverse tourism offering was placed in the spotlight during a three-day media and familiarisation tour ahead of Tourism Month 2026.
The tour, which began on 29 August, was organised by the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) to give local, national and regional media first-hand experience of tourism products across the province while highlighting opportunities for tourism-led economic development.
Journalists from Mpumalanga, eSwatini and other provinces participated in the programme, which covered attractions in the Gert Sibande and Nkangala districts.
From Barberton to eMalahleni
One of the highlights was the Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains World Heritage Site, where the media experienced the area’s ancient geological landscape and its potential for nature, heritage, cultural and adventure tourism.
The tour continued on 30 August to eMalahleni, where journalists explored attractions beyond the city’s traditional mining identity. The programme included a boat cruise, township tourism experiences, a picnic and a visit to the Loskop Dam area.
At Steve’s Place along the eMalahleni Dam, the group experienced activities including fishing, swimming and boating, while the Witbank Boat Cruise provided another perspective of the dam and its potential for leisure, family outings and celebrations.
The media also visited Lynnville Park, which provides space for events, markets, food and entertainment, before ending the eMalahleni leg at Emrabulweni in Ackerville, a local social and food destination.
The experiences demonstrated the potential for eMalahleni to strengthen its position in leisure, water-based tourism, food, entertainment and community tourism.
Tourism Month officially launched at Loskop
The media tour culminated on 31 August with the official launch of Tourism Month 2026 at Loskop Dam, where MEC for Economic Development and Tourism Jesta Sidell launched the provincial programme.
Hosted by the MTPA in partnership with the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, the launch was held under the theme, “Growing South Africa’s Tourism Sector in the Digital Era.”
The 2026 programme places strong emphasis on domestic tourism, digital innovation, artificial intelligence, sustainable tourism, tourism safety, community participation and opportunities for small businesses.
September packed with tourism activities
Tourism Month activities will run throughout September, beginning with the Sho’t Left Travel Week from 1 to 30 September, encouraging South Africans to explore destinations within Mpumalanga and take advantage of travel deals and packages.
Among the activities is a Digital Marketing Training Programme for Tourism MSMEs on 2 and 3 September, aimed at strengthening the digital skills of local tourism businesses.
The province will also host a Provincial Tourism Careers Expo on 3 September at Schoemansdal Community Hall, targeting Grade 10 and 11 learners and exposing them to tourism careers, training and business opportunities.
This will be followed by the Teachers’ Development Programme from 4 to 6 September at Forever Resort Swadini. Sport tourism activations will also form part of the programme, including the Kruger United versus Orlando Pirates match on 5 September at Mbombela Stadium.
Tourism and small-business development will remain a key focus, with an MSME Training Workshop for Women in Business taking place on 8 and 9 September in Delmas. Sustainable tourism workshops will also be held across the province, including in Ehlanzeni on 8 September, Gert Sibande on 17 September and Nkangala on 29 September.
Other September highlights include the Sanganani/Hlanganani Tourism Expo in Zimbabwe from 9 to 12 September, the Tourism Safety Campaign on 10 and 11 September, the eMalahleni Soulful Experience and Barberton Makhonjwa Mountain Marathon on 12 September, and the TS Galaxy versus Kruger United sport tourism activation on 13 September.
From 14 to 20 September, Mpumalanga Parks Week will provide South African citizens with an opportunity to access selected provincial nature reserves for free on the designated access day, while the Southern Geographers Conference will take place during the same period at the University of Mpumalanga.
The programme will continue with the Mpumalanga Finance Expo in Middelburg on 22 and 23 September, providing tourism MSMEs with information on funding. The Mpumalanga Tourism Expo, scheduled for 25 to 27 September at Riverside Mall in Mbombela, will bring together tourism products and markets from across the region.
One of the province’s major calendar events will be Provincial Tourism Day on 26 September in Dullstroom, eMakhazeni Local Municipality, focusing on responsible tourism, heritage, culture and community participation.
On the same day, the Zikhakhazise Ngesikhenu Cultural Fair will take place at Solomon Mahlangu Stadium in KwaMhlanga, providing another platform for cultural tourism and community participation.
The month will culminate around World Tourism Day on 27 September, with the national celebration taking place at Mapungubwe National Park in Limpopo. Mpumalanga will also host the Activate Film and Theatre Conference in Secunda from 26 to 28 September, bringing creative industries and tourism together.
For tourism businesses, the month will extend beyond events, with an MSME Quality Assurance Programme scheduled for 30 September to support selected tourism businesses with grading and quality assurance.
Addressing the Tourism Month launch, Sidell described tourism as an important contributor to the provincial economy and highlighted the need to use digital platforms and technology to connect tourism products with travellers.
Opening opportunities for local businesses
The province is also seeking to strengthen township and rural tourism while creating opportunities for small businesses, crafters, artists, cultural performers, food producers, tour guides, accommodation establishments and transport operators.
The focus is not only on attracting visitors, but also on ensuring that tourism expenditure translates into employment, local procurement, SMME growth, investment and benefits for surrounding communities.
Hosting the launch in the Loskop area also highlighted the province’s ambition to strengthen lesser-explored destinations and diversify the tourism economy beyond its established attractions.
For the journalists who travelled across the province, the tour provided a glimpse into the breadth of Mpumalanga’s tourism offering – from the ancient landscapes of Barberton to the leisure attractions of eMalahleni and the conservation potential of Loskop.
The challenge now is to convert that potential into sustained visitor numbers, longer stays, increased local spending and meaningful economic opportunities for communities throughout the province.
