Question NW2213 to the Minister of Tourism

Share this page:

18 October 2021 - NW2213

Profile picture: Winkler, Ms HS

Winkler, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Tourism

With reference to the tourism environmental impact plans, as reported by her department to the Portfolio Committee on Tourism on 17 August 2021, what is the (a) nature and (b) scope of the specified plans?

Reply:

a) Nature of the specified plans

Environmental implementation plan (EIP) is required by chapter 3 of National Environmental Management Act, 107 of 1998. (NEMA). Section 11(1) of NEMA provides that every national department listed in Schedule 1 of NEMA as exercising functions which may affect the environment must within one year of the promulgation of the Act and at least every five years thereafter develop an EIP. The Department of Tourism is listed in Schedule 1 of NEMA and is thus required to develop an EIP.

In 2018 the Department of Tourism gazetted the Environmental Implementation Plan (TEIP) 2015-2020 (First edition) in fulfilment of the requirements of Section 11 (1) of National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (NEMA). The gazetted EIP reached its end of life during the end of 2019-2020 financial year. The Department of Tourism second edition EIP (2020 – 2025) is currently in the process of being gazetted.

The purpose of the EIP is to co-ordinate and harmonize environmental policies, plans, programmed and decisions of the various national departments that exercise functions that may affect the environment or are entrusted with powers and duties aimed at the achievement, promotion, and protection of a sustainable environment. It further gives effect to the principle of co-operative government in Chapter 3 of the South African Constitution.

(b) Scope of specified plans

The Tourism Environmental Implementation Plan (TEIP) contains the following:

  • A description of policies, plans and programmes that may significantly affect the environment.
  • A description of the manner in which policies, plans and programmes referred to above will comply with the principles set out in section 2 of NEMA as well as any national norms and standards.
  • Recommendations for the promotion of the objectives and plans for the implementation of the Integrated Environmental Management (IEM) procedures and regulations referred to in Chapter 5 of NEMA.
  • The 2020 - 2025 TEIP outlines 12 strategic objectives and interventions to address the key environmental impacts associated with the tourism sector’s operations.

Source file