NATIONAL PARLIAMENT
(For Written Reply)
QUESTION NO. 2029
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO.
DATE OF PUBLICATION:
Dr D T George (DA) to ask the Minister of Tourism:
(a) At how many (i) international and (ii) domestic hotels/guest
houses were (aa) he and (bb) the Deputy Minister accommodated during
the period 1 April 2009 up to the latest specified date for which
information is available and (b) what (i) was the (aa) name, (bb) star
rating and (cc) city location of each specified establishment, (ii)
was the (aa) duration and (bb) purpose of the stay in each case and
(iii)(aa) was the total cost of the accommodation and (bb) is the
breakdown of the accommodation cost in each case?
NW2275E
DR D T GEORGE (DA)
SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT
HANSARD
PAPERS OFFICE
PRESS
2029. THE MINISTER OF TOURISM ANSWERS:
The newly created Department of Tourism financially split from the former
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism on 1 April 2010 and
information is therefore supplied accordingly.
The Ministry of Tourism, Department of Tourism and its public entity South
African Tourism works collaboratively to fulfill our vision and mandate to
position South Africa as one of the top 20 tourism destinations globally by
2020, and to grow tourist arrivals and spend with a view to sustainable job
creation and economic growth. Our international and domestic travel
investments are guided by these strategic imperatives.
Official travel was undertaken to participate in Cabinet, Parliamentary and
other official duties directly related to the business of government,
including official state visits with the President and Deputy President and
destination marketing. Furthermore, we have various bilateral agreements,
and regional and international institutional obligations. Above all, we
have a legislative mandate to market SA internationally. We are extremely
proud of our achievements in all these respects.
South Africa recorded an exceptional 15.1% increase in tourist arrivals to
the country last year. In 2010 we saw more than 8 million tourist arrivals
(8 073 552) to the country compared to just over 7 million (7 011 865) in
2009. This compares very well in international terms. Figures from the
United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) show that global tourism
arrivals is estimated to have grown by 6.7% in 2010, which means that South
Africa outperformed the global market by more than 8%.
The 15.1% growth in tourist arrivals to South Africa outperformed that of
every other region in the world, including arrivals growth of 13.9% for the
Middle East, 12.6% for Asia and the Pacific, 7.7% for the Americas, 6.4%
for Africa and 3.2% for Europe. We are delighted with these strong growth
figures.
Growth was not driven only by the World Cup, as the figures show that
tourist arrivals performance in 2010 exceeded that of 2009 across all 12
months of the year. In terms of tourist arrivals to South Africa, we
recorded increases from all our markets, with the regional growth rates as
follows:
ÃÂ Â Europe 8.1%
ÃÂ Â North America 22.5%
ÃÂ Â Central and South America 109.2%
ÃÂ Â Australasia 26.3%
ÃÂ Â Asia 39.1%
ÃÂ Â Middle East 19.3%
ÃÂ Â Africa 12.8%
These figures provide a solid base on which we can build in terms of our
growth targets for emerging markets. From a tourism perspective we stand to
gain tremendously from our recent inclusion in the BRIC partnership and we
are aligning our planning and strategies accordingly.
We have continued this positive growth during this first quarter of this
year.
International - Minister
(a)(i)(aa) Minister: international: 26
(b)(i))(aa) The Minister stayed at establishments Including the Marriot
Group, InterContinental, Hyatt, Sun International, Steigenberger
Group
(b)(i)(bb) Star ratings for these establishments range from four (4) to
(five)
(b)(i)(cc) The location of these establishments include amongst others:
Beijing, Hong Kong, London, Moscow, Maseru, Dubai, Geneve, Frankfurt,
Brussels, Paris, Zurich, Andorra, Berlin, Hanoi, Buyeo-Gun,
Windhoek, Victoria Falls, New York, Copenhagen
(ii)(aa) The duration of the stays range from one (1) to five (5) days
(ii)(bb) The purpose of each stay was to carry out official ministerial
duties
(iii)(aa) Total cost of accommodation for the period â R400 993
(iii)(bb) Average cost per stay - R15 422
Domestic - Minister
(a)(ii)(aa) Minister: domestic: 11
(b)(ii)(aa) The Minister stayed at establishments Including the Red
Carnation Group, Fairmont Group, Sun International Group and
various private guest houses
(b)(ii)(bb) Star ratings for these establishments range from three (3) to
(five)
(b)(ii)(cc) The location of these establishments include amongst others:
Polokwane, Durban, Parys, George, Port Elizabeth
(ii)(aa) The duration of the stays range from one (1) to five (5) days
(ii)(bb) The purpose of each stay was to carry out official ministerial
duties
(iii)(aa) Total cost of accommodation for the period â R73 132
(iii)(bb) Average cost per stay - R6 648
International - Deputy Minister
(a)(i)(bb) Deputy Minister: international: 12
(b)(i))(aa) The Deputy Minister stayed at establishments including the
Marriot Group, InterContinental Group, Sheraton Group, Crown
Plaza, Sofitel
(b)(i)(bb) Star ratings for these establishments range from four (4) to
(five)
(b)(i)(cc) The location of these establishments include amongst others:
Athens, Algiers, Ankara, Iguazu, Shanghai, Beijing Dubai, Porto
Valerta, Nairobi, Madrid
(ii)(aa) The duration of the stays range from one (1) to five (5) days
(ii)(bb) The purpose of each stay was to carry out official ministerial
duties
(iii)(aa) Total cost of accommodation for the period â R 225 973
(iii)(bb) Average cost per stay â R18 831
Domestic - Deputy Minister
(ii)(bb) Deputy Minister: domestic: 12
(b)(ii)(aa) The Deputy Minister stayed at establishments Including the
Hilton Group, Protea Hotel Group, Red Carnation Group and
various private guest houses
(b)(ii)(bb) Star ratings for these establishments range from three (3) to
(five)
(b)(ii)(cc) The location of these establishments include amongst others:
Durban, Mafikeng, Port Elizabeth, Queenstown, Polokwane, San Lameer,
Umtata
(ii)(aa) The duration of the stays range from one (1) to five (5) days
(ii)(bb) The purpose of each stay was to carry out official ministerial
duties.
(iii)(aa) Total cost of accommodation for the period â R50 972
(iii)(bb) Average cost per stay â R4 247