Tourism has long been viewed as one of the holy grails of job creation in South Africa, which is burdened by an unemployment rate of more than 30 percent. Certain parts of the country - Cape Town, and its surrounds for example - have become firm favourites with local and international visitors. Now the lesser known province of Limpopo is also hoping to take its place at the table.

South Africa's liquor firm, Distell Group Limited, has entered into a partnership with Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) to promote wildlife conservation and eco-tourism in the country.

So far about 10 businesses, Mozambican and foreign, have expressed an interest in investing in the Limpopo National Park, according to the park's administrator, Gilberto Vicente - but the park is endangered by police and local officials who collaborate with poachers.

The Kenya Wildlife Service should share out the revenue collected from game parks with local authorities, Nakuru Town MP, Mirugi Kariuki said.

THE United States has contributed $500 million towards the development of the Liuwa National Park recently leased to South African investors, African Parks Zambia Limited.

Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk yesterday announced measures to protect marine areas in the country.

A grant of R40 million by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism is being put to good use by the South African National Park (SANParks).

SA will now have 19% of its coastline under marine protection laws, against international norm of 20%

Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) Ngambela Mukela Manyando has assured that no one will be thrown out of Liuwa National Park.

FOLLOWING allegations of foreign exchange round tripping among operators in the nation's dowstream petroleum market, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have initiated collaborative arrangements to effectively check the practice.

THE Rakai LC5 chairperson, Vincent Ssemakula, has appealed for more funds to promote eco-tourism at Musambwa Island bird sanctuary on Lake Victoria, reports Gerald Tenywa.

Councillors in Narok yesterday told the government to keep off the affairs of Maasai Mara Game Reserve.

The Mozambican Tourism Ministry has pre-selected four tourism operators for the Limpopo National Park, in the southern province of Gaza, and soon will decide on the final winner, who should start working before the end of this year, reports Monday's issue of the daily paper "Noticias".