UNESCO Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site (RGDE: Market/Financial Plan)
UNESCO Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site (RGDE: Market/Financial Plan)
Gauteng, South Africa
On behalf of Gauteng Province Department of Agriculture, Conservation and the Environment (DACEL) in South Africa, Randall Gross completed work on a Financial Plan for the nominated United Nations World Heritage Site at Sterkfontein and surrounding palaeo-anthropological sites. He assessed indicative operating and capital costs and determined an appropriate budgeting plan for conservation management and tourism development of the area and specifically for a major interpretation centre (museum) at the site. He has also recommended approaches for maximising the community economic benefits (“impacts”) and skills base generated by the site. As part of his analysis, he reviewed tourism market potentials and recommended the tourism “product” for the sites, including a major interpretive and research centre. Based on the proposal that included this Financial Plan, the site was selected by UNESCO as one of South Africa’s first World Heritage Sites. ADEC’s Director also assisted DACEL in completing the site’s Financial Plan and Community Benefits Analysis as part of the Management Plan process. The resulting financial analysis was included in DACEL’s Request for Proposals to potential developers, one of which was selected to develop the interpretation and conference center which is now operating successfully as “Maropeng.”