Hon House Chair, tourism is one of South Africa's leading industries. The department's role is observed ... [Inaudible.] ... policy and strategic frameworks for the growth of tourism. With the decline in tourism arrivals, one must have a look at the factors that cause such declines. One of the great factors is crime in our country: a Prestige Hotel where 15 men held up guests with firearms, a stabbing to death of a 44- year-old tourist in Table Mountain National Park, the stabbing of a 33- year-old tourist that was three months pregnant and her husband while they were peacefully sleeping in the Eastern Cape, theft of property at reserves and even tourists being followed from airports just to rob them of their personal belongings at
gunpoint, hijackings, violent service delivery protests and, the latest, where a rock climber was shot to death.
To address the problem of crime is to see the big picture where the department cannot work in silos. For a healthy tourism environment you need, firstly, grave and responsible government, functional local government, a clean environment and action against crime, with a healthy economy that favours entrepreneurship. The department must not overlook policy that appeals to all government departments by which success in tourism will only be established by the united government all giving effect to helping the tourism market back to health.
We need a government that does not talk or campaign for the next election. We need a responsible government that is willing to take unpopular decisions, as leaders should do. Our ANC government only wants to please their voters, and is a party that take popular decisions, thereby creating unrealistic policies while there is proof that they do not work. With a greater government even a tourism industry can show significant growth, but only
with a real leadership and great political will in government.
Afrikaans:
Suid-Afrika is een van die gesogste teorismebestemmings. Suid-Afrika kan toeriste 'n unieke stukkie van die wreld bied en doen 'n beroep op die Minister om 'n groter prentjie van samewerkende departemente te kry, om so ook by te dra tot een van die markte wat 'n groot rol in werkskepping en ekonomiese vooruitgang in Suid-Afrika speel. Hiermee keur die VF Plus die verslag af.
Afrikaans: