The monument design shows the direction of the compass and includes representation of several African landmarks.
According to Hanekom, the rich biodiversity and natural heritage found in South Africa’s national parks are key tourism attractions that contribute significantly to the attractiveness of the continent’s tourism offering.
“We can only enhance these amazing tourism offerings by adding features like the iconic Map of Africa Monument to deliver memorable experiences to our visitors and ensure many happy returns,” the minister said.
He noted that funding and support for infrastructure development projects “is particularly important to us – it enables us to fulfil our mandate of creating inclusive economic opportunities for our people.”
“All South Africans should desire tourism growth as it translates into economic growth, jobs and opportunities for many” such as small, medium and micro enterprises, Hanekom said.
According to the tourism ministry on Tuesday, the symbolism of the US$1.1 million map that has a circumference of 30 metres took a year to build, and it pays homage to the African continent.
“The iconic Map of Africa Monument at the southernmost tip of Africa is one of the infrastructure features commissioned and developed at the Agulhas National Park by the Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with South African National Parks (SANParks), to enhance visitor experience and boost the local tourism economy,” ministry spokesperson Blessing Manale on Tuesday.