Chairperson, tourists visit our country and continent to experience the magic and majesty of all that is African. In many respects, South Africa plays the role of the gateway to the rest of Africa. I is the front line, if you will, offering the overseas visitor their first African experience. As such, we need to ensure that all the relevant factors are addressed that make international travellers choose and, thereafter, prefer South Africa as a travel destination.
The advent of the 2012 Soccer World Cup extravaganza saw much needed upgrades to our air, road and rail infrastructure, allowing tourists a more efficient and safe travel experience within our country.
Our nonproximity to tourism-generating areas remains a hindrance, however. For the majority of tourists, South Africa is a long-haul destination. As such, we are held hostage by the airline industry, whose excessive prices can sometimes cost us right out of the market when it comes to attracting tourists from other continents. How do the Minister and his department intend to address this problem? Cultural events, local cuisine and lifestyle also play a significant role in attracting tourists. These might take the form of festivals and religious or traditional events, such as the annual Reed Dance Festival at Enyokeni Palace in KwaZulu-Natal, the Ukweshwama [First Fruits] Festival, and the Dance of the Maidens as a weapon in the war against HIV and Aids Festival, to name a few. These events are not given the necessary international showcasing they deserve. The net result is that our country's traditional communities are the ultimate losers, because much-needed tourist revenue never arrives.
Let me turn to our game parks, the veritable jewels in the crown of South African tourism. Poaching and associated acts of violence are severely depressing the international demand for visits to these wild sanctuaries. We therefore stress again the need for tourists to feel safe and secure when visiting our country, and for the toughest of criminal sanctions to be legislated and meted out to those who contravene our laws in any way.
As in most instances, the travel industry follows a "profit above all else" mind-set. This greatly impacts on both our domestic and international tourism markets, but the major impact is felt in our domestic tourism market. This kind of thinking does not encourage tourism and the department should explore various avenues through which to educate our travel industry and tourism operators on the best ways to incentivise and not drive away tourists.
Emerging international tourism markets must also be tapped and vigorously engaged by the department so as to ensure that an adequate market share comes to South Africa. The IFP supports the budget. [Time expired.] [Applause.]