Question NW1423 to the Minister of Tourism
24 June 2022 - NW1423
Sithole, Mr KP to ask the Minister of Tourism
Whether, in light of the recent flooding in parts of Durban and KwaZulu-Natal, her department has an integrated strategic plan in place to assist flood victims who depend on tourism for their livelihood; if not, why not; if so, (a) how will the victims within the tourism sector affected by flooding be assisted, (b) what public consultations were held to conceptualise the plan and (c) how can affected persons access support?
Reply:
No, there is no integrated strategic plan. The intention of the site inspections undertaken by officials from NDT; EDTEA; TKZN; Ezemvelo and KZN Sharks Board was to assess affected sites that have relatively high impact on the value-chain to drive local tourism development and recovery post the pandemic, thus having socio-economic bearing on affected neighboring communities. The purpose was to assess damage and to determine how the Department may assist the province and product owners in repairing-refurbishing affected critical tourism infrastructure. Integration of various aspects of responses to the flood damage is integrated at a level of the Disaster Management Centers both provincially and nationally, working with relevant departments.
a) Product owners affected by flooding have mostly indicated that their insurances will pay for the repair of damaged tourism infrastructure. Given that there is not much damage and disruption to tourism establishments and infrastructure, businesses have continued to operate. To this end, operators are largely calling for restoration of bulk services. This is attended to through the efforts of the various mandate departments.
The focus is on restoration of operations through refurbishment in the cases of tourism infrastructure in the publicly owned facilities working with the provincial authorities.
b) As indicated, the purpose of the site inspections was to assess damage to tourism products and infrastructure. Consultations were with relevant product owners and operators both public and private sector.
c) Where there might be limited disruption of incomes, those effected will be eligible to approach the UIF in line with its mandate.