Question NW1907 to the Minister of Tourism
29 September 2016 - NW1907
Mhlongo, Mr TW to ask the Minister of Tourism
Whether his department has achieved its targets of (a) total tourism revenue and (b) job opportunities created up to the latest specified date for which information is available in line with the National Tourism Strategy 2020; if not, in each case, why not; if so, in each case, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(a) The National Tourism Sector Strategy (NTSS) did not provide an indicator for total tourism revenue. However, targets are provided for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contribution. In this regard, the targets have been achieved. Tourism was estimated to contribute R71 billion in 2009 in the original NTSS with a target of R118 billion by 2015. The Tourism Satellite Account for South Africa, final 2012 and provisional 2013 and 2014 recorded a contribution of R111 560 billion (2.9% of total GDP) in 2014. In terms of total (direct and indirect) GDP contribution, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Travel and Tourism Economic Impact 2016 South Africa Report estimated a contribution of R375 billion in 2015 (9.4% of total GDP).
(b) Yes, 2015 NTSS targets in terms of both direct and total jobs were achieved. The NTSS 2011 provided a baseline of 389 100 direct jobs in 2009 and a target of 403 900 direct jobs in 2015. According to the Tourism Satellite Account for South Africa (final 2012 and provisional 2013 and 2014) tourism contributed 680 817 direct jobs in 2014. The WTTC Travel and Tourism Economic Impact 2016 South Africa Report estimated a contribution of 703 000 direct jobs in 2015. This performance exceeded the National Tourism Sector Strategy targets.
In respect of total jobs (both direct and indirect) contribution, the NTSS set a baseline of 919 800 jobs in 2009 and a target of 968 300 jobs in 2015. The WTTC estimated a total contribution of 1 554 000 jobs in 2015, surpassing the 2020 target of 1 097 000.