Question NW2121 to the Minister of Tourism
24 June 2022 - NW2121
Winkler, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Tourism
(1)What (a) was the nature of her department’s intervention and response to the disaster in KwaZulu-Natal and (b) is the total number of individuals deployed to assist in the wake of the devastation; (2) whether any funds were dispersed; if not, why not; if so, to whom; (3) what (a) is the total number of grocery hampers dispersed, (b) are the contents and value of each hamper, (c) to whom and where were the hampers dispersed, (d) what was the criteria for the allocation of hampers and (e) how did the individuals apply for the hampers?
Reply:
1. (a) The focus of the Department’s intervention in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) was to assess the damage to major tourism attractions i.e. attractions with relatively high impact on the value-chain to drive local tourism development and recovery, post the heavy rains and floods that hit the province in April 2022.
The Department, through its entity South African Tourism, also sought to ensure that the key events scheduled for the province such as the Africa’s Travel Indaba went ahead as planned. The South African Tourism together with Tourism KwaZulu-Natal engaged tirelessly with industry and other authorities in ensuring that the events went smoothly during the Africa Travel Indaba held from 2-5 May 2022 and on other events to be hosted in the province.
(b) The Department deployed nine (9) officials with the Director-General joining the efforts on the 19th and the 22nd of April 2022. There were also officials from South African Tourism focussing on the major events scheduled to be hosted in the province, starting with the Africa’s Travel Indaba in early May 2022. No officials from the Department are deployed on site full-time. However, there is a Flood Response Team within the Department that participates actively in the Economic Recovery Workstream of the Extended National Joint Flood Coordination Committee (NJFCC).
2. No funds have been disbursed at this point.
3. (a) Not applicable. The Department is not involved in the Humanitarian Assistance Workstream but the Economic Recovery Workstream.
(b) Not applicable.
(c) Not applicable
(d) Not applicable
(e) Not applicable