RANJENI MUNUSAMY - Sunday Times
Tucked in the lush hills of the Natal Midlands, one of KwaZulu-Natal's earliest tourism attractions, the Lilani
Hotsprings, lies dormant, desolate and in ruins.
Once a luxurious health spa, legendary for the healing powers of its water, the Lilani Hotsprings near Greytown,
has been abandoned for almost four decades.
After the original facility was launched in the 1920s, the spa used to be frequented by travellers and nature lovers
from around the world.
By the end of this year, Tourism KwaZulu-Natal hopes to restore the resort to its former glory with a modern tourist
facility which will include a range of hotspring pools and an upmarket self-catering lodge.
Tourism KwaZulu-Natal market research and product development manager, James Seymour, said the redevelopment project
was the brainchild of a community that lived around the valley.
Lilani had all the natural resources and development potential to make it an ideal site for developing a holiday
destination.
At the same time, it would being much-needed investment and job creation to the area, he said.
The community, part of the Sithole-Mthembu Tribal Authority, is now working with the Department of Economic Development
and Tourism, the Ndlovu Regional Council and the tourism authority on the R8-million project.
People in the community will provide labour for the construction of the facilities and assist in the upkeep and
running of the resort.
The joint venture has allowed the community to own a percentage of the business. Local and foreign investors are
also being sought to partner the community and sponsor the development of the area.
"After a feasibility study was done, we provided ground funding to kick-start the first phase of the development.
With rural, community-based tourism projects, the government has to intervene to encourage an enabling environment
for private investor interest," Seymour said.
A geo-technical survey of the area has been completed and the site cleared to begin construction of the first phase
of the project - a day visitor facility and a 15-bed chalet with a communal kitchen.
The luxury, full-catering lodge will follow once the facility is well established and rebuilds its tourist base.
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