/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) can confirm that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s target of 21 million visitors by 2030 in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) was, like most of his promises, a pipe dream. On Tuesday, SA Tourism (SAT) confirmed to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Tourism that the President’s target was unrealistic and unattainable.

SAT instead indicated that a more realistic tourism target would be 16.5 million by 2030. In their presentation, SAT explained that although South Africa is considered a “cheap” destination, we remain an expensive destination compared to other tourist destinations.

While 16.5 million is not a cause for concern, the reality is that President Ramaphosa cannot expect South Africa to welcome high numbers of tourists to our shores when our economy is floundering, crime is on the rise and our aviation industry is being held to ransom by industrial action on the part of unions.

The challenges in the tourism sector are further compounded by the apparent lack of coordination between the Department of Tourism and other relevant Government Departments and entities in effectively implementing the country’s tourism plans of action.

The DA will be submitting Parliamentary questions to enquire whether the Department in conjunction with other relevant Departments have any short and long-term strategies/programmes in place to boost tourism; what the budgets are for those strategies/programmes and whether these strategies/programmes have bourn any fruits.

It is pertinent that the Department in conjunction with the South African Police Services as well as the Departments of Home Affairs, Transport and Arts, Culture and Sports, cooperate and facilitate the implementation of long term tourism initiatives.

It is no secret that rampant crime, xenophobic tensions, and Government’s now overturned decision on unabridged birth certificates, have taken a massive blow on our economy and tourism industry. 

The DA will be taking this issue to the National Assembly and will be challenging the Minister to make the required paradigm shifts. Government simply cannot take the tourism industry for granted. In 2018 alone the industry contributed 1.5 million jobs and R425.8 billion to the economy – it is simply too an important industry to fail.

Issued by DA