THE Limpopo government hopes the annual traditional marula beer festival will reinforce the tourism industry in the province since thousands are expected to flock to the province for the event.

The festival is entering its sixth year in Phalaborwa, east of Polokwane on the edge of the Kruger National Park.

The department of environment, economic development and tourism has said it expects more than 30000 people to attend this year's event from February 19 to 26.

Speaking during the launch, MEC Pitsi Moloto said the government believed the festival would continue to back the economic development of the province.

"We hope the marula festival and Amarula production will maximise the beneficiation beyond the hospitality service," Moloto said.

In the area marula harvesters storm the bush to harvest the fruit and produce mukumbi. The others sell their fruits to Distell, an Amarula beer producer in the area.

More than 70percent of the Amarula produced is exported across Africa, Europe and South America, with the company joining forces with Kenya for marula fruits harvesting.

Moloto launched the seven-day festival and warned that it would not only focus on making money but also on remote cultural conservation.

More than 4000 litres of Amarula have been secured from the traditional brewers and the festival is set to host a marathon.

This season in the lowveld the olive-green fruit of the marula tree mature to a golden yellow, fall from the tree and is harvested freely.

Women in the area said they sometimes they battled to harvest the fruit because of the elephants and baboons that are lured across the hills by its fragrance.

Distell has a joint venture with local people who harvest the fruit.

Unemployed Maria Sambo is one of the harvesters. She supplies marula to Distell with other women.

Takalani Mamatsharaga of the SA National Botanical Garden Institute, said the harvest of marula fruits does not pose any threat to the environment and the tree continues to receive respect from the community.