Disabled Tourism: briefing; Public Service Commission’s Fourth Consolidated Monitoring & Evaluation Report 2007 & State of Public Service Report 2008: adoption of Committee Reports

Meeting report

Public Service Commission (PSC): Fourth Consolidated Monitoring & Evaluation Report 2007
Members considered the Committee’s Report on the Public Service Commission’s 4^th Consolidated Monitoring and Evaluation Report. Members agreed to adopt this Report.

State of Public Service Report 2008: Deliberation and adoption
Members adopted the Committee Report on the State of the Public Service Report

Tourism for the Disabled: Mr Vincent Gore briefing
Mr Vincent Gore (ID) emphasised the imperatives around tourism for the disabled, and added that a person who was disabled was not precluded from visiting and exploring other countries and cultures. He had recently returned from a visit to Asia and noted that there were 83 million disabled people in China.

He noted the possible social and economic spin offs of a South African / Asian tourism collaboration for the disabled. He felt that it was time for disabled Chinese people to have a taste of what Africa had to offer at a tourism level. He felt that this was not only about charity, but that the venture could be economically viable as well.

Mr Gore deemed ‘Enabled Online Disabled Travel’ as the ideal tourism catalyst to enable disabled Chinese people to see all of beautiful Africa and South Africa.

He said that Asian tourists were generally the swiftest tourists and often wanted to see as much in as little time as possible and added that ‘Enabled Online Disabled Travel’ would afford them the advantage of touring five prominent destinations or countries in just one week. Some of the activities to be enjoyed could include whale watching, hunting, fishing, safaris, diving, wine tasting and exploring Table Mountain.

‘Enabled Online Disabled Travel’ comprised a 50% disabled ownership, which Mr Gore stipulated was vital for the understanding of the diverse needs of the disabled. All the tour guides were proficient in Chinese and all equipment and accommodation were disabled-compliant.

Mr Gore added that ‘Enabled Online Disabled Travel’ was a perfect boost for the South African tourism industry.

He said that according to the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT), ‘Disabled Travel’ was one of the fastest growing opportunities in South Africa.

He drew analogies with the United States of America and China, stating that 72% of America’s disabled population toured.

Mr Gore said that South Africa was the first country in Africa to introduce disability grading for the tourism industry, and that the industry had been the pilot in South Africa with a formal scheme to tackle accessibility issues. He added that the Universal Accessibility Grading Scheme encouraged the sector to comply with international requirements for the physically disabled.

Mr Gore then spoke of Disabled People South Africa (DPSA), which was a partner of Enable Online Disabled travel’. The DPSA was a Member of the Southern African Federation of the Disabled, was a member of the Pan African Federation of the Disabled, and was also a member of the Disabled People International. It represented more than 300 member organizations in South Africa. It was furthermore a civil rights organization, promoted human and disability rights and was the primary driver of the United Nations Convention on the rights of disabled people.

Mr Gore concluded with slides of what Chinese tourists could experience if they were to tour the African countries.

Discussion
Members expressed their appreciation of the presentation.

Mr D Julies (DA) said that all buildings needed to be disabled friendly.

Dr U Roopnarain (IFP) agreed that the market for disabled tourism had been neglected and she commended the idea of taking Africa to all people. She noted that South African Airways (SAA) needed more and improved passenger-assisted aid units and that disability accessibility needed to be improved at hotels, lodges and Bed and Breakfast establishments. She said that the disabled in South Africa had been marginalised for too long and commended Mr Gores’ initiative. She thought that he had the support of the entire Committee.

The Chairperson said that the presentation had stimulated creativity with regard to accommodating those who were disabled.

Adoption of Committee Minutes
The Committee considered and adopted its minutes of 4, 11, 18 and 25 June, and the minutes of 6, 13, and 20 August, 25 September, 24 October, and 14 November 2008.

The meeting was adjourned.