Limpopo tourism expected to generate up to R100 million over Easter

The Limpopo tourism department said that it is expected to generate up to R100 million from the Easter holiday.

CEO Moses Ngobeni said that the influx of worshippers is driving massive economic activity across the province.

He said as Limpopo fills up with Easter pilgrims, tourism officials say demand for accommodation has reached breaking point.

With the third day of the Easter weekend underway and ZCC churchgoers gathered in Moria City.

Ngobeni said that facilities near the church are fully booked.

He said that some visitors turning to local homes for space for either parking their cars or to use as resting places, both of which they have to pay for.

Ngobeni added that the surge has forced some establishments to hike prices despite warnings from the tourism agency not to exploit visitors.

"On the side of the road, you know, in the households, people parking their cars there. It's people that already are getting accommodated, you know, in those households. And they park their vehicles. So they pay, like if you go to a lodge. They may not sleep in the room, but they get charged, you know, something. For them, they take care of their vehicles and they give them ablution facilities and they also get a place to put their tents there."

 He admits that while Limpopo has grown its tourism capacity, it still cannot fully meet the massive demand during peak religious events.