South Africa and Mozambique hope to turn the Great Limpopo transfrontier park and the Lubombo transfrontier conservation area into prime tourism spots for the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa said on Tuesday that the two countries were looking at what infrastructure was needed to make the areas accessible for tourists.
He was speaking at the conclusion of an economic bilateral commission between South Africa and Mozambique, held in Pretoria.
"We looked at how we prepare ourselves as the Southern African region to make sure that by 2010 we have the necessary supporting infrastructure that will make these areas strong tourism areas," Mpahlwa said.
The commission which was headed by President Thabo Mbeki and his Mozambican counterpart President Armando Guebuza received reports on work already underway on these projects.
These include the construction and repair of landing strips for aircraft and infrastructure development in the conservation areas and parks.
Mpahlwa said similar incentives were underway in other transfrontier areas South Africa shares with its other neighbours.
South Africa shares the Ai-Ais Richtersveld transfrontier park with Namibia, the Kgalagadi transfrontier park with Botswana, the Limpopo Shashe transfrontier conservation area with Botswana and Zimbabwe, and the Maloti-Drakensberg transfrontier conservation and development area with Lesotho. - Sapa