Hon Chairperson, once the bout is over here, I think I could continue. We agree with the hon member who presented the report that indeed the tourism sector and what happens in tourism really helps the economy of this country and many jobs are created. I think for every one tourist, two or three jobs, hon Minister, are created. I have forgotten the exact figures.
But whilst these jobs are created, and we heard about jobs like tour guides and you get drivers and things like that, I think it is about time that we start looking at equity in the tourism sector. How many of these establishments, whether they be hotel chains, airline companies or other service providers, are black-owned? Many of them are still in the hands of big corporates, where there's no transformation in terms of the shareholding of these tourism establishments. I think that is an area that we need to look at. Well and good you create so many jobs out of every tourist, but we really need to look at having equity.
I also thought I should raise the issue of airlines flying into South Africa. I read the other day that a certain airline, which is Emirates Airline, was granted permission to have a fourth flight out of Johannesburg to Dubai, but there is an objection by the Department of Transport. This doesn't augur well when an airline, which already had the permission to bring in an extra flight, suddenly now, when they've made all the arrangements to start these flights, athe Department of Transport objects, because they want to protect the interest of SA Airways. We know SA Airways is in trouble - in big trouble. We will continue putting money into SA Airways until the cows come home, and the cows will never come home.
These are the things, if we want to encourage tourists in our country, we have to be tourism-friendly in terms of allowing airlines to bring tourists here and also in terms of ensuring that we don't have another Dewani case happening here in South Africa. It really creates a bad blot on the tourism industry in our country. I'm sure the hon Minister will look into some of these issues. Thank you.