By Simon Nare
The Tourism Department has described proposed policy as the ideal remedy for creating a regulatory system and a well-coordinated tourism safety programme, which will be supported by law enforcement and focuses on high tourist areas affected by crime.
The department said the White Paper for the Development and Promotion of Tourism in South Africa proposed interventions that would introduce a clear crisis management framework.
It would be regularly revised to enable destination South Africa to manage and respond to crises.
Department officials were peaking during a presentation to Parliament’s portfolio committee on tourism.
The interventions would focus on enterprise and supplier development as a critical lever for transformation in the tourism sector, and the sector recommitting itself to a responsible tourism agenda and sustainable development goals.
In a separate event on Tuesday, Tourism Minister Patricia De Lille said the White Paper provided guidance to the next phase of tourism development and ensured that South Africa reached its full potential as a tourist destination.
“The policy envisages a sustainable, competitive and inclusive tourism sector that leverages on innovation, digital technology, addresses barriers to tourism growth, builds partnerships and responds to the social imperatives of the country.
“It further will enable the tourism sector’s contribution to the broader economy, employment and entrepreneurship whilst ensuring that the sector becomes resilient as it better responds to the future needs of the tourism sector,” she said.
The minister said the White Paper focused on promoting safety and security, facilitating ease of access, domestic tourism, crises management, promoting transformation and enabling technological developments.
Her officials echoed similar sentiments in Parliament, and committed the department to continuously strengthening mechanisms for quality visitor services as they were central to the competitive visitor economy
Further, the department said in the presentation that policy changes would ensure investment in rural and peri-urban routes of high tourism potential, as well as a unified tourism competitive identity showcasing the diversity of the destination and supported by evidence-based marketing.
Proposals included positioning South Africa as a leader in hosting international events especially in the Southern Hemisphere and promoting it as a preferred destination for tourism investment by packaging solid investment opportunities.
This included implementation of the SADC Protocol on Tourism which promoted integration.
The White Paper has been approved by Cabinet.
The department will be embarking on a programme to ensure it is aligned between the three spheres of government, the tourism industry and relevant sector departments.
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