Date: 11th September 2011
R10 million has been earmarked for the upgrading of the Swartberg Pass between Oudtshoorn and Prince Albert.
The Acting Municipal Manager of Greater Oudtshoorn Municipality Mr Lluwellyn Coetzee said at the Tourism Bureau's annual general meeting that the upgrading of the pass is a project of the National Department of Environmental Affairs. This is in addition to the R4 million flood damage repair project on the Prince Albert side of the Swartberg.
Tourism members who attended the meeting voted for the top seven attractions in the Greater Oudtshoorn area and the Swartberg achieved first place.
How and when the Swartberg Pass will be upgraded must still be decided but the options do not include tarring the road. Things such as look-out points and serviced toilet facilities, which will also create jobs, are being considered.
Other wonders in the Oudtshoorn area are the Cango Caves, ostrich farming, Meiringspoort, De Rust that recently won the Rapport/Kwela's Village of the Year Competition, the Klein Karoo Wine Route, the "Verepaleise" and the indigenous vegetation.
Despite the European recession that has a large impact on tourism Oudtshoorn, visits to the Cango Caves in July, showed a growth of 36% when compared to July last year.
