Mr Speaker, a recent research report has revealed that South Africa's natural environment has deteriorated the fastest in the world over the past 20 years. This is a major concern.
The major attraction for the tourism industry remains our untouched scenic beauty and wildlife. Against the recent announcements on infrastructure development for Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape, we need to reach a balance between development and the fight against pollution. It is not sustainable to overemphasise the one above the other. This can lead to long- lasting and devastating results.
The Department of Tourism and the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs need to take serious stock and ensure that we conserve and protect what is left of our scenic beauty. We need to create a culture of compliance for all parties concerned. Agriculture and big business should lead the way in order to ensure that environmental laws are respected in South Africa. If we don't, we shall not have an asset to sell to the international tourism market for it to visit South Africa.