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Nelspruit - With features like the Kruger National Park and Blyde River Canyon, it's simply unacceptable that Mpumalanga is second last on the list of provinces that South Africans prefer to visit, said economic development and planning MEC, William Lubisi.
Speaking as part of Tourism Month, he said tourism had to become a bigger income generator for the province because, in 20 to 30 years, the region's coal reserves will have been depleted.
Lubisi warned: "Our economy has long relied on coal mining and other reserves, but the economic structure of our province is gradually changing."
He reiterated his call for local residents to be more friendly to visitors.
Friendliness and warmth is what has made Mauritius a leading tourism destination, he said.
"We have the potential to turn our province into South Africa's own Mauritius.
"All it takes is to treat our visitors like queens and kings."
He said the first people visitors meet are petrol pump attendants, traffic cops or street vendors, all of whom should take the time to smile of say a friendly word.
"If we treat them well, they will say good things about us when they return to their provinces or countries," he said.
He said the province had established a Tourism Academy to train young people in the hospitality field and begun a programme to introduce knowledgeable tour guides.