Question NW1624 to the Minister of Tourism

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27 June 2022 - NW1624

Profile picture: Winkler, Ms HS

Winkler, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Tourism

(1)What measurable successes have arisen from the Tourism Sector Recovery Plan (TSRP); (2) whether she has engaged with any other department(s) and/or Minister(s) with regard to assisting and/or collaborating in the recovery of the tourism sector; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether she and/or her department engaged with any local government structures and entities and/or the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs on the role of community tourism organisations in the recovery of the tourism sector; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

10 The Tourism Sector Recovery Plan (TSRP) has been under implementation since April 2021 and progress towards achieving the Plan’s seven Strategic Interventions has been achieved as follows:

a) Norms and Standards

  • Norms and Standards in respect of COVID-19 were gazetted by the Department in December 2021, providing a uniform framework for safe tourism operations for the sector. Integration of the norms and standards into various training programmes, namely, Food Safety Quality Assurers; Chefs; Wine Service Training and Hospitality Youth Programmes is in progress.

b) Infrastructure Maintenance and Enhancement

  • Infrastructure maintenance work continued in 19 National Parks and 800 participants were employed as at the end of quarter three;
  • Five (5) Nature Reserves identified in Limpopo for the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme aimed at enhancing and maintaining state-owned attractions;
  • Five (5) community-owned tourism projects to enhance visitor experience supported in Limpopo; and
  • Nine state as well as community owned projects supported by the KwaZulu Natal (KZN) Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DEDTEA) to enhance their physical state and sustainability.

c) Other achievements

  • Three sessions were held to encourage hosting of major events in Villages, Townships and Small Dorpies (VTSDs).
  • The implementation of the recovery efforts has also seen the return to full operation for food and beverage facilities.
  • Improvements has also been noticed in the accommodation sector with regards to occupancies.
  • Furthermore, the country has also witnessed the return of the various tourism trade shows such as Meetings Africa and Africa Travel Indaba in person and many other business meetings that the country is now hosting with more secured going forward.

d) Enablers

  • The Global Advocacy Programme aimed at re-igniting the South African Brand was launched;
  • The Tourism Monitors Programme was launched in collaboration with the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) on 15 November 2021 at the OR Tambo and Cape Town International Airports;
  • Integration of Tourism Safety Tips into MYSAPS App was completed and the development of a coding system by the South African Police Services to help encode cases reported by tourists is underway;
  • The Department of Home Affairs (DHA)’s e-visa application system is now open. Eligible countries include:
  • Kenya and Cameroon;
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Philippines and Rwanda;
  • Ethiopia, Iran and Egypt;
  • India, Uganda and Mexico;
  • Pakistan and Nigeria; and
  • China and Saudi Arabia.
  • The e-visa link https://ehome.dha.gov.za/epermit/home creates a four-step process where applicants can create their profile associated with passport details; submit online application form; upload documentation; and confirm secure payment;
  • Biometric Movement Control System rolled-out at OR Tambo International Airport; and Immigration e-Gates implemented at three (3) major international airports.
  • In respect of re-establishing South Africa’s airlift capacity, various airline operators resumed operations to and within South Africa.
  • The challenge remains the vaccination uptake.
  • Government consumption when it comes to utilization of commercial venues has also supported the recovery of the sector.

2. The Department engaged with the Departments of Home Affairs, Health, SAPS and Transport during the development of the Tourism Sector Recovery Plan and they endorsed actions that are within their respective mandates. The plan was approved at Cabinet level and reporting against its implementation is part of the reporting against Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP).

3. The Department coordinates the Local Government Peer Learning Sessions in conjunction with Provinces and Local Government to constantly address matters relating to tourism development and promotion including tourism recovery. Thus, the Department’s point of entry to community tourism organisations is through Provincial and Local government with due recognition of the concurrency of the tourism legislative mandate.

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