Plett Tourism Chair Takes Up Top SANParks Role

The founder and chairperson of Plettenberg Bay Tourism, Paul Duverge, has been appointed to a senior national position within SANParks. Duverge steps into the newly created role of General Manager: Hospitality Services and Standards, tasked with elevating guest experiences across South Africa’s national parks.

Paul Duverge, newly appointed as SANParks general manager of hospitality services and standards, with Tourism Grading Council of South Africa assessor Roebendry Gangiah at the tourism indaba last month.

Duverge, formerly Managing Director of Raw Africa Boutique Collection (Sky Villa and The Bungalow) and a contributor to the City of Tshwane’s tourism portfolio, brings with him extensive industry expertise. His new mandate focuses on standardising hospitality touchpoints to meet world-class expectations across all SANParks-managed destinations.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Development and rollout of standard operating procedures for accommodation and guest services

• Setting in-room and site presentation standards

• Service excellence coaching

• Guest feedback systems

• Grading readiness

• Promoting community-linked experiences, such as local wines and crafts

• Hospitality-focused training and staff development

With over six million visitors welcomed annually to South Africa’s national parks — including the popular Garden Route National Park cluster — the role is seen as critical to SANParks’ long-term vision of service excellence.

Collaboration Across the Country

Duverge will work alongside other senior leaders in tourism and marketing to visit SANParks clusters across the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and the Kruger National Park’s Skukuza, Satara, Letaba, and Lower Sabie regions.

“These site visits are part of a collaborative national plan designed to identify high-impact opportunities that align guest experiences with SANParks’ conservation-driven identity,” he explained.

Duverge confirmed that he looks forward to returning to the Garden Route as part of these efforts.

From Resistance to Real Transformation

Reflecting on his time in Plett, Duverge acknowledged the challenges of driving change.

“I’ve seen how new ideas and people can be met with resistance. But those experiences deepened my understanding of what meaningful transformation requires,” he shared.

He describes his current environment at SANParks as “a refreshing shift” from working in silos to a culture of collaboration, accountability, and progress.

“You can’t deliver world-class guest experiences without uplifting the people delivering them,” he emphasised. “That’s why we’re investing in training, recognition, and instilling real accountability. Pride and purpose are the foundation of outstanding hospitality.”

Duverge said the ultimate goal is to deliver experiences that make South Africans proud and encourage international visitors to return.

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