Once again, plans to build a hotel in the Kruger National Park have come to light. The reason for this development is now clearer: SANParks wants to make Kruger National Park more accessible to the developing black middle class of South Africa.
Previous reports
The first reports that a brand new hotel will be constructed by 2013 were released in March last year. You can read about it on our blog here. These reports stated that a 120-room hotel will be built in the southern section of the park, on the Crocodile River.
At the time, Dr. David Mabunda, CEO of SANParks responded to strong criticism: “There is no scientific evidence that having a hotel in a protected area has a negative impact on biodiversity.”
Latest reports
SANParks conducted research about the demographics of Kruger visitors. Out of the more than 1 million visitors to the park annually, the majority are white South Africans. Even though the number of black South Africans visiting the park is increasing, it remains at a meager 26 percent. Out of these, only 6 percent spend a night or more inside the park.
Because of this, the Kruger is said to have become “an elitist destination for white South Africans and foreigners looking to escape to nature.” This is according to New24 reports of yesterday morning.
Accommodation options in the park seem to be the reason why few black South Africans sleep over. “Our assessment has shown that this group does not like staying in camps or lodges available in the park,” said tourism boss, Glenn Phillips.
Therefore, they’re hoping that a more luxurious hotel will attract members of the growing black middle class to spend two or more days inside the park. SANParks has assured that “the development would be in line with our mandate to conserve nature”, but many conservationists aren’t convinced.
Objections against and support for the hotel
Many believe that building a hotel inside the park’s borders is a complete violation of what the park stands for. Some believe that the park is deviating from its core philosophy and others believe that this will be the start of major commercialisation inside Kruger.
At the moment, 0.3 percent of the park is developed. This is roughly the size of Belgium.
Still, there are people who are convinced that a hotel is not such a bad idea and that it is important for the park, which has been in existence since the 1930s, to evolve with the times.
What are your thoughts? Share them in the comments section below.
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