Mpumalanga’s Parks Week is opening the gates of selected provincial nature reserves for free this week.
Still, for businesses operating around the attractions, the bigger question is whether increased visitor movement will translate into more customers and income.
The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) are running Parks Week from 14 to 20 September 2026, giving day visitors free access to selected nature reserves.
The initiative is part of the province’s Tourism Month programme and aims to encourage people to explore local tourism attractions.
Participating attractions include Manyeleti, Ohrigstad Dam, Songimvelo’s Kromdraai Camp, Nooitgedacht Dam, Loskop Dam, Mkhombo, Mahushe Shongwe and SS Skosana, while Blyde River Canyon has specific access arrangements.
The free-entry offer applies to day visitors, while overnight accommodation remains subject to normal charges.
Visitors could create opportunities for SMMEs
For small businesses operating along these tourism routes, increased visitor movement could create opportunities for restaurants, accommodation establishments, tour operators, transport providers, fuel stations, curio shops and other tourism-related enterprises.
Oscar Nkosi, a manager at 1352 Exclusive Lifestyle & Shisanyama, said they seem to benefit more than the parks.
“When more people come into the area, there is a chance for us to sell more meals and refreshments. But free entry alone does not guarantee business for us. Visitors need to know where local businesses are and what we offer.”
The potential economic impact of Parks Week therefore extends beyond the reserve gates. Visitors travelling to the attractions may need food, fuel, transport, accommodation and other services, creating potential spending opportunities for businesses in surrounding communities.
Turning visitors into paying customers
Martin Mkhabela, a tour operator in Tonga, said the Parks Week could also provide an opportunity to introduce visitors to experiences beyond the free reserve access.
“We see Parks Week as an opportunity to introduce visitors to other experiences in the area. Someone may come for the free access to the reserve and then decide to book a tour or visit another attraction.”
However, increased visitor numbers do not automatically translate into increased revenue for local businesses.
Businesses still need visibility, access to customers and links to the tourism attractions to convert visitor traffic into sales. “The challenge is getting visitors to stop and spend money locally. We need better visibility and stronger links between the reserves and small businesses around them,” said Nkosi.
For accommodation businesses, another measure of Parks Week’s impact will be whether day visitors decide to extend their trips and spend a night in the surrounding communities.
The opportunity beyond Parks Week
The potential benefit is particularly relevant for small tourism enterprises that depend heavily on domestic travellers.
MTPA’s 2026/27 Annual Performance Plan identifies Parks Week as one of its marketing activities for nature reserves, alongside domestic tourism activations in Mpumalanga and neighbouring provinces.
The agency has also historically positioned Parks Week as a way of encouraging locals to travel within the province and explore its natural attractions.
For Zoliswa Zungu, an informal trader, the opportunity could extend beyond the seven-day promotion if first-time visitors become repeat customers. “If visitors have a good experience, they can come back outside Parks Week. The real value for small businesses would be turning first-time visitors into repeat customers.”
What this means for local businesses
With visitors entering participating reserves without paying an entry fee, businesses around the attractions will be watching whether increased traffic results in higher sales, bookings and enquiries.
The initiative could provide a short-term opportunity for tourism SMMEs, but its longer-term economic value will depend on whether visitor traffic is connected to local businesses.
For restaurants, accommodation providers, tour operators, transport businesses and informal traders, the key measure will ultimately be whether visitors move beyond the reserve gates and spend money in surrounding communities.
Excerpt
MTPA’s free Parks Week access could increase visitor traffic across Mpumalanga, but local tourism businesses will be watching whether more visitors translate into bookings, sales and new customers.
