The Robben Island Museum in South Africa has announced plans to convert former apartheid-era prison guard houses into overnight tourist accommodations, sparking local debate over the commercialization of the Unesco World Heritage Site.
The R70 million (approximately USD 3.7 million) upgrade project aims to repurpose the deteriorating structures to generate sustainable revenue for the island's ongoing conservation and maintenance. Opening dates, booking channels and pricing details have not yet been released.
The announcement has drawn criticism across local news outlets and social media, with some users describing the concept of vacationing at a former political prison as "in poor taste."
In a media statement, Robben Island Museum defended the project, rejecting claims that the conversion will undermine the site's historical value.
"These houses, once symbols of surveillance and control within the apartheid prison system, will adaptively be reused to serve contemporary social, economic and environmental objectives while preserving their historical integrity," the museum stated.
Management noted that transforming structures associated with oppression into spaces of learning and reflection aligns with the island's mission of social justice. The new accommodation is intended to host tourists as well as researchers, educators and artists-in-residence, with the resulting income reducing the museum's reliance on external funding.
Further details regarding the rollout of the lodging will be announced by Robben Island Museum at a later date.