Hon Speaker, prior to the drafting of the Tourism Bill 2012, the sector was governed by the Tourism Act of 1993. This Act was amended three times - 1996, 2000 and 2002 respectively. However, the Act fell short of being an overarching national legislative framework for management of tourism and became inflexible in responding to the ever- changing landscape of our sector.
In recognising that transformation is vital to ensure the sustainable growth and development of the sector; the Department of Tourism embarked on the drafting of the Tourism Bill. Upon promulgation, the Bill will repeal the Tourism Act of 1993 as amended. The Bill's overarching aim is to provide for the development and promotion of sustainable tourism for the social, economic and environmental benefit of our country's citizens.
With that in mind, the Bill defines the following five key objectives: Promoting the practice of responsible tourism; providing for the effective marketing of our country, both domestically and internationally; promoting quality tourism products and services; promoting the growth and development of the sector; and effective intergovernmental relations in developing and managing tourism.
The glaring gaps that the Draft Tourism Bill seeks to address include the following: When the Bill is passed as an Act, the National Tourism Sector Strategy, the NTSS, which was approved by Cabinet in 2011, will form part of the legislative framework for the management and development of tourism. The NTSS is premised on tourism growth, enhanced visit experiences, sustainability, transformation and good governance.
The Bill makes provision for the establishment of a Conventions Bureau by SA Tourism to co-ordinate bits for business events. Necessary steps have already been taken to fund and implement the provisions that define the Bill for the creation of such a Conventions Bureau. The Bill establishes the SA Tourism Grading Council as a statutory entity that is responsible for quality assurance of tourism products, services and facilities. The White Paper and NTSS recognise lack of knowledge and understanding within the tourism sector.
Therefore, in the Bill, we are providing for knowledge and information management, monitoring and evaluation. This is aimed at fostering better understanding of the sector and improving decision-making. Furthermore, the Bill defines this as voluntary and allows for incentives for businesses that participate. One of the major challenges that we have experienced is the differentiation of standards of service facilities and products rendered by the sector throughout our country.
The Bill also provides for the Minister of Tourism to issue norms and standards to standardise the management and development of tourism, including the provision of tourism services, facilities and products throughout the country. The Bill further provides for the determination of codes of good practise as guidelines for the management of tourism. This legislation was the subject of a wide and transparent consultative process with all relevant role-players. In conclusion, the state of our travel and tourism sector in South Africa is with no doubt remarkable. Our country as a whole embodies a very distinct fabric of interwoven cultures. The world's eyes have been opened up like never before to the beauty, diversity of experiences, and into these possibilities that South Africa has to offer. It is beyond all doubt that the Tourism Bill represents the essence of what will enhance the performance of this sector for decades to come. This legislation heralds a new era for tourism as a major force in the economic transformation of this country.
I would like to thank the Chairperson, hon Don Gumede, for his leadership throughout the process of public hearings and deliberations. Furthermore, I would want to thank all the committee members for their dedication during this arduous process.
Finally, South Africa is currently one of the most successful tourism destinations in the world, outcompeting all our direct competitors. On 25 April, this coming Thursday, the hon President will officially release the extremely positive 2012 tourist arrivals statistics. I hereby request that this House pass the Draft Tourism Bill 2012. Thank you. [Applause.]
Hon members, I am not quite sure what the excitement is about, but there is such noise here - other people are standing and everything. I am not sure if it's the last tourism session. [Interjections.] Please! This side too, please. [Interjections.] No, I don't need a seconder here. I don't have a deputy presiding officer here.
Hon Speaker, hon members, before we get down into the nuts and bolts of the legislation, let us first put it within context, particularly of our long-term plan, the National Development Plan, NDP.
Let us start at the beginning where President Mandela said that there is no hope for development in countries that have no common purpose. This applies to our country as well. Our country needs a common purpose which has to be the beacon of light in the turbulent and dark seas of the current global climate with the intense competition it comes with. To us that common purpose has been achieved and that common purpose is the National Development Plan.
This plan was based on the situational analysis that is the diagnostic report of the Planning Commission and was supported by all political parties. It says that our country should move from being a country with very few jobs and begin to create significantly more jobs. Our country has to move away from having a crumbling infrastructure to a country that continues to expand infrastructure. It identifies our overdependence on mineral resources and advises migration to more manufacturing and service industries. It tells us to move away from exclusive planning and engages in inclusive planning among others. This Bill is, therefore, totally aligned to the National Development Plan and we are highly appreciative of that, Minister. It is inclusive, it creates jobs not within the mineral resources and it develops as infrastructure develops. Secondly, tourism has also been identified as one of the pillars in the New Growth Path, NGP, and the President has alluded to this in his state of the nation address more that once.
We also know that tourism absorbs many unskilled and semiskilled people, who form the vast majority of the unemployed in our country and that includes many youths and women. Therefore, in tourism when employment increases, it also addresses the serious problem of inequality in our country and we happen to be one of the leading countries in as far as inequality is concerned. We are taking steps to address that as demonstrated by this Act.
We see this Bill as an enabler for the tourism sector to perform even better and as our mineral resources get depleted we will continually enhance our capacity in manufacturing and services, tourism being part of the latter.
Fortunately for us, the world knows we can serve customers well. The world knows we are a safe destination. The world knows there is a very low risk of being infected in South Africa. The world knows that our roads are as safe as any other in the developed world. Yes, we have casualties. Yes, there are deaths but we are doing a lot to try and make sure that the numbers are kept low in relation to other nations.
The world also knows that South Africans are the best people on earth. They enjoyed themselves in South Africa in 2010. They also know that in joy we cry and sing; they know that in grief we cry and sing - and always with a loud vuvuzela to help us along. We know that South Africa is a very attractive destination that can draw much more people, which means that we have to prepare even better.
The challenge then is to maintain and to sustain that growth to realise the job opportunities envisaged in the National Development Plan. This Bill fits like a glove to this plan. We are going to realise more jobs. We are going to succeed and to conform to the National Development Plan in 2013. What do we hope to achieve with this Bill? Firstly, this Bill repeals the outdated 1993 legislation. It introduces regulations, rules and institutions to enable different stakeholders better, to make our destination more attractive, and to make attractions and products more appealing for more tourists to come to South Africa. It provides for sustainable growth and development in tourism. It also promotes a politically integrated approach throughout the three spheres of government.
This it does by allowing the Minister to adopt and to be part of the national tourism sector strategy on an ongoing basis as a matter of course - this we believe is a very important institution. It also introduces a National Tourism Information and Monitoring System. It legislates on tourism grading and develops enforcement mechanisms. It introduces the Tourism Protector, to protect tourism stakeholder's interests. It regulates tourism guiding, which is an important pillar in tourism. It promotes transformation as it empowers the Minister to set up a tourism development fund together with the Ministry in the Treasury.
Transformation in tourism involves many departments, many stakeholders, different levels of government and these are not under the control of tourism. So, we have to take that reality into account and try integrating processes as much as possible. Working in silos is not going to lead to a successful tourism development. It promotes transformation and it empowers the Minister to set up a tourism development fund for that purpose.
Transformation in tourism has to happen. We won't allow ourselves to fail on this matter for we know that our democracy cannot protect the few who are rich against the many that are poor. Democracy cannot protect a few rich when we are accumulating more poverty. Therefore, we take it upon ourselves to make sure that there is transformation in rural areas, urban areas, and promote women and the youth in ensuring that everybody has a stake in this democracy.
Lastly, there were a number of submissions to Parliament and the committee considered each one of them. The committee accepted some, rejected others giving reasons and made recommendations. Others which were not within the realm of tourism were referred to the relevant departments and spheres of government.
In conclusion, let me thank all those who made submissions, the department and the state law advisor for the support they gave when we needed it most. I also thank each and every member for making it possible for the committee ultimately to reach full consensus. I thank you. [Applause.]
Madam Deputy Speaker, I think the Minister was quite right in saying that this Bill has gone through a long passage. It has gone through the constitutional muster and it also went through Nedlac where certain clauses of a transport related matter were negotiated and extracted. What we have in front of us today is a much more refined and meaningful Bill focusing on bringing tourism to the fore as a serious contributor to the gross domestic product, GDP, unemployment and the economy. Furthermore it relates well to the National Development Plan in so much that it assists in co-ordinating and planning in an industry that was deemed to be fragmented and untransformed.
These challenges can only be addressed through a concerted effort by all spheres of government and the private sector working together. As Tourism is an area of concurrent national, provincial and local competence it would be essential that co-ordination and synergies between these spheres are both maintained, aligned and enhanced in order to provide for good co- operative governance. During both oversight and the public hearings of which there were over 27 submissions, the portfolio committee identified this area as critical if scarce resources were to be used effectively and duplication of destination marketing did not occur.
The Bill attempts to address these and other important matters in a number of ways. The main provisions are for the continued existence of the South African Tourism Board, the establishment of the Tourism Grading Council, the regulation of the tourist guide profession and most importantly the creation and adoption of a National Tourism Sector Strategy in order to promote the objectives of this Act.
If the department's vision of being one of the top 20 world destinations by 2020 were to be realised, many areas of visitor experience would need enhancement and to this end the Bill provides for not only the setting of standards of excellence but also the determination by Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk of norms, standards and indicators to measure compliance and excellence in both tourism services facilities and products. In a nutshell, the key is to give visitors to our country a great experience within the environment of a quality assured, responsible and safe destination which will get them talking and wanting to return here with their families and friends.
The Minister and his department has their work cut out for them and in order to ensure compliance with the Bill - one of their first jobs will be to adopt the National Tourism Sector Strategy. To this end, the Minister will need to create a forum which involves all stakeholders and members of the public at large in order to consult around this strategy, as without this buy in it will fail to achieve its objectives.
Key to this strategy will be the creation of a credible tourism information and monitoring system, including the crucial establishment of a database which will enable reliable visitor arrivals and departures at our ports of entry to be accurately recorded. Equally important to this will be to set up a system which also accurately determines domestic visits to our resorts. Accurate tourist data is crucial to developing and marketing our tourist destinations, and current figures derived from Statistics South Africa and the Department of Home Affairs are often treated with disdain by the tourist sector. Especially, since some visitors in transit are often inaccurately captured and those visitors from neighbouring states in particular are captured as tourists when in fact their main purpose to enter the country is that of seeking employment.
Many smaller problems still occur with the implementation of this Act which the Minister will need to monitor carefully. Paramount to this is the assurance by his counterparts that the cabinet plays its part. We cannot continue to promote tourism destinations that do not have proper road access or try to ensure our tourist guides meet high expectations - without proper training and information being given to them; or that their vehicles are given the necessary permits to travel with their clients from province to province if required.
I am sure the Minister is aware that there was a concession in the National Land Transport Act, clause 48, which actually enabled this to happen. I want to report to him that it is not happening. There is not an NTPR as it should have been established in each city so that guides can be able to take visitors throughout the country. Finally, let me touch on something that keeps on rearing its ugly head and is costing the industry dearly, which is the rising cost of accommodation, meals and entry into our national parks. The South African National Parks seems to be a law unto itself in this matter and consistently raises its fees to the detriment of tourism in general.
During the public hearings many concerns were raised about access and affordability by the more vulnerable members of our society in particular regarding heritage sites and our national parks. The matter needs urgent address. We do not want to end up losing our edge as an affordable destination on the back of a weak rand. Otherwise, the DA is looking forward to the implementation of the Bill despite some resistance from Kwazulu-Natal which you will have to deal with. We will be supporting the Bill's passage through Parliament and the National Council of Provinces, NCOP. [Applause.]
Hon Deputy Speaker, hon members, having waited patiently for this legislation promised since 2009 when the state President declared the Department of Tourism as a stand alone department. Cope is however satisfied that the delay turned out to be a blessing in disguise in that the final product is a result of extensive consultation by the national department and also by the committee though under pressure to meet deadlines by the presiding officers to process the Bill quickly.
The portfolio committee managed to conduct public hearings from the many submissions received. This provided an opportunity for meaningful interaction with a variety of stakeholders. With more time at our disposal we could have done more. I say this being aware that the Speaker of the National Assembly has previously pronounced his concern on the quality of legislation passed by this House, legislation that has successfully been challenged in courts of law for one reason or another. Thus in processing this Bill the committee endeavoured to ensure that it passes the test.
The preamble to the Bill identifies the following as the most pervasive challenges facing the development and growth of tourism in South Africa, these are: inadequate, unco-ordinated, inconsistent and fragmented planning and provision of information in the tourism sector. This speaks to inadequate co-ordination among the three spheres of government and the private sector. In my opinion, the Bill, among others, attempts to address these shortcomings. Visible success, however, will depend on implementation, thus the buck stops with civil servants.
Section 4 of the Bill obliges the Minister to adopt a National Tourism Sector Strategy but after a consultation process open to the public, business and any interested persons. The Minister must also consider any representations. Public hearings emphasised the lack of accessibility of information in tourism. This is the reason with regards to information provision. The committee amended section 5 replacing the word may with must in order to oblige the Minister to establish a national tourism information and monitoring system which will collect, record, manage, analyse and disseminate information and data on tourism. Details of how to effect this are spelt out in section 6.
The Bill also authorises the Minister to set norms and standards after consultation with the provincial MECs and ensured public participation by publishing these in two newspapers circulating nationally and one newspaper circulating in the province. Cope supports the principle of consultation by the Minister and public participation as contemplated in a number of sections in the Bill where applicable.
The provision of a bridging clause which is section 9, ensures the continued existence of the South African Tourism Board which was established by the old Act. The board is an important organ as it is responsible for marketing South Africa both as a domestic and international destination. It must also market tourism products and facilities. It also acts as an advisory body to the Minister. It is important to note that the members of the board are appointed on the basis of their knowledge, experience or qualifications relating to the functions of the board.
The Bill authorises the Minister to develop a national grading system for tourism. This is essential for the maintenance and enhancement of standards and quality of services, facilities and products. This is a must if South Africa is to continue enjoying a consistent increase in the number of tourists visiting the country, thus contributing to job creation and to the gross domestic product, DGP. The grading system is managed by the Tourism Grading Council which is established in terms of section 29. The council then appoints a chief quality assurance officer. The committee's amendments to section 40 and 43 are aimed at strengthening the functioning of this portfolio in maintaining standards as this contributes to the growth and development of the industry.
Cope supports the designation as a tourism protector who becomes the link between the department, business, tourism and tourists. Tour guides as a direct contact with visitors to the country are a very important factor in the industry. Therefore, the Bill ensures that they are registered in their provinces by provincial registrars and the national registrar must maintain a database of all registered tour guides. The registration is valid for three years in all provinces. Cope supports the Bill. Thank you. [Applause.]
Deputy Speaker, the development and promotion of sustainable tourism in South Africa is one of the core elements towards our country's continued economic success and growth. Growing at three times the world average, tourism in South Africa is currently a high-growth multibillion rand industry.
The department has set itself the impressive goal of wanting to increase the number of foreign tourists' arrivals to 15 million by the year 2020. This requires appropriate and pragmatic legislation.
This amendment Bill seeks inter alia, to enable us to keep pace with this rapid growth of the number of tourists in South Africa. It also seeks to bring about a greater cohesiveness between the spheres of government and the private sector and thus maximise the benefits received from this industry.
Being a priority economic sector and key producer of employment, tourism and its appendant legislation must remain current and on trend. Appropriate development guidelines and regulatory measures are key in this endeavour. Unco-ordianted, inconsistent and fragmented tourism planning must be relegated to the past.
This Bill's proposed legal framework seeks to aid with the implementation of the tourism White Paper and align the principle act with government objectives and the Constitution. These are the challenges that our government is facing and quite rightly these are some of the challenges that this Bill seeks to address.
Recent tourism initiatives such as the What's your Big 5? ad campaign, which will be broadcast to a TV audience of an estimated six million viewers in the US, aimed at promoting South Africa as a destination beyond its iconic Big 5 safari excursions, is an example of lateral thinking initiatives that must be embarked upon in order to sustain tourism growth in this country.
Locally, the safety of tourists in our urban, rural and national parks areas must be and remain central in our thinking if we are serious about the promotion and development of tourism. Our law enforcement agencies must be adequately capacitated so as to be capable of providing protection services to our visitors.
Further tourism protection through the office of the Tourism Protector is also very welcome and long overdue. This will go a long way in ensuring proper service delivery by our tour operators to our guests and appropriate redress and sanction in the event of failure or substandard delivery of tourism services.
In conclusion, the National Registrar of Tourist Guides, as well as a single code of conduct and ethics of tourist guides will also greatly improve, regulate and standardise service delivery. This is a welcome Bill which is fully supported by the Inkatha Freedom Party. I thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Deputy Speaker, hon Minister of Tourism, hon members and stakeholders, we are gathered here during the month of pain and joy. It is a sad month as the number of our struggle icons - Comrade Oliver Reginald Tambo, who passed away on this day in 1993; Comrade Chris Thembisile Hani, and Comrade Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu - fell during this month. It is also a joyful one since those that once spoke of their blood nourishing the soil that will bear the fruits of freedom have been proven to be great foretellers of the truth that has been.
It is indeed because of the sacrifices of the likes of Comrade Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu that we stand here with no fear of contradiction and forge forth of the fruits of freedom to be spread amongst our people. The Tourism Bill that stands before us today is very important in the sense that it seeks to provide for the development and promotion of sustainable tourism for the social, economic and environmental benefits of South African citizens. The Minister has alluded to such in numerous occasions. This statement is assuring to me as a citizen and as a member of the Portfolio Committee on Tourism. It is also important that we have not lost sight of what the rule of the ANC is in emancipating our people.
This legal framework will also create amicable conditions for the drafting of policies, strategies and regulations that will promote tourism growth and ultimately the realisation of transformation which will lead to a positive contribution of the tourism sector towards job creation and ultimately the reduction of the unemployment challenges faced by our country.
This Bill can only realise its vision through not only the enforcement of the law, however, also through the promotion of one vision by different stakeholders. Responsible tourism can result out of cohesive efforts, like the trunk of a baobab tree and its branches, this legislation will be the base of all the different components toward the bigger vision.
During the public hearings we heard a number of avenues that required immediate attention for the Bill to strike the right cord, and it is the role of the department and that of us parliamentarians to ensure that work put in this Bill is not in vain but leaves a great legacy for our children's children.
The Bill also speaks of the introduction of the convention bureau that will ensure a collective effort for the bidding of business tourism events. Moreover, in as much as the SA National Convention Bureau was just introduced in the Bill, it has been operational for one year and its existence has already ensured the hosting of 87 events between 2013 and 2017. These events are expected to inject R2,6 billion into the economy of the country. It is for this reason that we believe the Bill brings forth new hope and fruits of even greater freedom.
Furthermore, the reaffirmation of the grading council as a body that will ensure that our products meet the required service excellence standard is another reason for hope. Even better, we hope that the benefit of grading of establishments will soon be realised by many in the industry and will result in mass registration for grading purposes ultimately putting South African tourism as a world class destination.
It is also important that we note the impact played by media reports. In numerous occasions, these reports disregard the great positive strides made by the country. They ignore the great state of our attractions in the country with most beaches being of excellent standards, the great scenery that the country possesses and the cultural diversity of the country. Issues such as the safety of our water, and so forth, should be great selling points and work towards changing perceptions about the country. This is why the department needs to take stock of the great achievements in the country and run with them for the benefit of our country.
With those words, I would like to move for the passing of the Bill. Long live the spirit of Oliver Tambo! Long live the spirit of Kalushi Solomon Mahlangu! Thank you.
Madam Deputy Speaker, hon members of this august House, Your Excellency, Deputy President, the Tourism White Paper of 1996 recognised the strategic importance of tourism to the economy of South Africa. It is considered to be one of the six core pillars of growth in the New Growth Path Framework, NGPF. And it has also been identified as the key sector with the potential to grow the economy and create jobs.
The National Tourism Sector Strategy of 2011 aims to establish South Africa as one of the top 20 tourism destinations in the world by 2020. In order to achieve this, it recognised the need to create a legislative and regulatory environment that is conducive to tourism development and promotion.
The Tourism Bill 2012 that is presented here for your earnest consideration and approval is designed to do exactly that. It provides a broad framework for sustainable growth and development of the tourism sector.
The framework as encapsulated in the Bill, amongst other objectives, primarily covers the following four areas: Firstly, marketing South Africa as a tourists destination both internationally and locally through the SA Tourism Board, SATB; secondly, ensuring quality control of the sector through the Tourism Grading Council, TGC, and the appointment of a chief quality assurance officer for the management of the grading system; and thirdly, addressing complaints from tourists through the designation of an official of the national Department of Tourism as the tourism protector; fourthly, during the public hearing on the Bill, one particular submission raised a concern that the tourism industry was being dominated by many unqualified and unregistered tour guides.
Well, hon members, the Bill before the House seeks to provide for the appointment of an official as the national register of tour guides, whose task would, amongst other duties, be to maintain a central database of tour guides as well as to prepare and enforce a code of conduct and ethics for tour guides. In short, he or she will be responsible for the management, regulation, and quality controls of the tour guides profession.
Hon Deputy Speaker, many of the concerns raised by various stakeholders during the process of the public hearings are already covered in the NTSS. Other relevant concerns have now been addressed in the current Bill before the House. However, many of the issues raised, like matters related to labour or lack of proper infrastructure could not be legislated for, and therefore, could not be accommodated in the Bill and for the following sound reasons: They have been covered by the existing legislation elsewhere. They do not fall under the mandate or competency of the NDT. They are matters related to departmental strategic direction and matters of policy.
However, there were some valuable suggestions that came up in the submissions during the cause of public hearings, which do not necessarily relate to the NDT, and they reside in other governmental departments but they are good enough to be given serious consideration. And there are many that I could quote, but I don't have time for that.
I hope that the other government departments will fully co-operate with the NDT and we have reiterated this time and again, we have emphasised that there is a need to have interdepartmental co-ordination and co-operation, without which the NDT and the tourism sector will not achieve their desired goals.
In conclusion, Madam Deputy Speaker, it is my considered opinion that this Bill before the House with all its provisions, plugs the gaps that exist in the Tourism Act of 1993, and also grants the Minister the necessary powers and sufficient autonomy to overcome the inadequate, unco-ordinated, inconsistent and fragmented tourism planning and information provision, as they have been identified in the preamble of the Bill.
I wish to take this opportunity to thank all those people who have been instrumental and who have made valuable contributions, including members of the public towards the formulation and the facilitation of this Bill. The DA supports the Bill. I thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Deputy Speaker, Minister of Tourism, hon Ministers, hon members and guests, good afternoon. The ANC supports the Bill; and it is informed by an overarching national legislative framework for better ever-improving tourism management.
This Act recognises that tourism transformation is vital in ensuring the sustainable growth and development of the tourism sector. The Bill provides development and sustainable tourism promotion for social, economic, and environmental benefit for all, especially disadvantaged communities. This has been covered by previous hon members when they were addressing the House.
The Bill further provides information and knowledge management, monitoring - which is vital, and evaluation, creating partnerships between the department and the business community. The Bill will foster an improvement in decision-making. The legislation, hon Deputy Speaker, has been approved after a wide and transparent consultation with all role-players within and outside Parliament.
The Bill does not seek to over-regulate the private sector or the tourism industry but rather seeks to enhance the partnership between government and private sector to include all South Africans in the economic transformation mainstream of our beloved country.
The latest statistics indicate that the size of the tourism industry in South Africa is at R8,3 million. This industry has a total contribution of R251,8 billion to the GDP of the country. Currently, there are about 1,2 million people employed in this sector formally and informally, directly and indirectly.
The tourism industry continues to grow in South Africa and is one of the industries that were able to weather the international economic recession. Current figures show that South Africa recorded an increase of 10,4% in the fourth quarter of 2012. This growth is more than twice the international growth of 4% that has been recorded globally.
Hon Deputy Speaker, the Bill will ensure that the growth of experience in the tourism sector will be sustained through a number of business friendly regulatory frameworks that will also entice investors into the sector. The provisions of the Bill are therefore investor friendly as they protect the current businesses, in terms of ensuring quality of promoting the sector whilst ensuring that there are norms and standards that are observed by the emerging enterprises and existing businesses alike.
Hon Deputy Speaker, the Bill has been widely accepted as other hon members have said, particularly at the committee level, but on a lighter note I must say that I am a bit worried of agreeing with the opposition in matters such as these.
The Tourism Bill has been crafted in such a way that it favours self- regulation by the tourism industry to ensure that the sector continues to grow and contribute to the economy of the country, and creates the much needed jobs within our society. The role of government remains a key in providing the legislative framework in which tourism takes place, but the onus has been bestowed on the industry to ensure that more investments in the sector are realised.
The Bill gives power to the Minister to adopt the national tourism sector strategy, which will assist the sector to have a blueprint that will have targets reviewable from time to time to ensure that tourism industry remains in line with the National Developmental Plan.
Until now the sector did not have a single methodology of collating tourism statistics. The Bill will establish a national tourism and information system, NTIS, that will align the work done by Statistic SA and South African Tourism, through using the same indicators and methodologies in capturing tourism figures. This will assist in producing credible and reliable Statistic SA.
The Bill will also ensure continued existence of the SA Tourism Board, which is tasked with marketing South Africa internationally and domestically. The functions of the board are important in ensuring that South Africa becomes a preferred tourism attraction and that that culture becomes a preferred tourist destination and that tourism is inculcated amongst South Africans to boost domestic tourism.
The recent downgrading of our country abroad by Moody's, Standard & Poor's about the recent spate of violence against women and other unbecoming social ills in our country, somehow affects tourism decisions to make our country a preferred tourism destiny.
The tourism industry is a very sensitive industry and quality of service offered to patrons can make or break the tourism facility and has a potential of tarnishing the image of South Africa as a tourist destination of choice. In this regard, the grading system which is proposed in the Bill will ensure high quality of our tourism product offerings and enhance service excellence in the entire industry.
Deputy Speaker, while we move with that spirit with the establishment of the tourism protector, the Bill ensures that for the first time in South Africa consumers will be protected when purchasing tourism packages. Both international and domestic tourists will now have a mechanism of having their issues and complaints sorted by the relevant industrial body. This will boost consumer confidence in South Africa as tourists will be assured of a fair treatment in all tourist facilities countrywide.
Tour guides are always the first and the last point of contact with the tourists. Tour guides must therefore maintain high standards of professionalism at all times. The Bill provides tour guides registration to ensure that we have a national database which is dealing with tour guides on a daily basis and where they are located.
Transformation was raised by the public during our consultations processes. However, the Bill does not cover this as the portfolio committee resolved that issues of transformation were cross-cutting as the hon chairperson of the committee has indicated.
In closing, Deputy Speaker, I must say South Africa is one of the successful tourism destinations in the world, notwithstanding some of the negative publicity. However, I must say that the committee is also attending to that matter.
Hon members, we have a legal framework, which has been created to ensure participation of all. Fellow South Africans, together, we can do more! [Applause.] I thank you.
Thank you, hon member. Whilst the Minister is coming to the podium, hon members, you are really competing with the speakers on the podium. There are people whose voices I even hear as I'm sitting here. Once I mention their names, they are going to be embarrassed. I'm not saying that you shouldn't talk, but don't compete with the speaker on the podium, please!
Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like to thank all hon members for participating in this debate and for their constructive contributions, but, especially their hard work in the portfolio committee. I would also like to thank all political parties for their unanimous support, it is highly appreciated.
The chairperson of the committee, the hon member Gumede, encapsulated the overall objective of this Bill: To ensure that South Africa becomes an even more competitive destination and a very effective tourism destination. Hon members in this House know that when we agreed to the National Tourism Sector Strategy, as government and the private sector, we said that our objective is that South Africa must be one of the top 20 destinations by the year 2020 and we are well on our way to achieve just that.
The hon member, Farrow, raised one particular issue that I would like to briefly respond to, and that is the issue of the credibility and integrity of our statistics. Let me assure this House that I have always believed that the official government statistics are beyond reproach. There is nothing wrong with those statistics, but, nevertheless, I appointed a committee made up of all the relevant stakeholders, the private sector and their representative bodies. The end result is that all of us agreed on the system, and we have dealt with the one or two minor question marks and filters on those issues quite successfully. So, we all agreed that the official government statistics is what all of us can accept as the truth. Let me just say that it is supported by all the private sector surveys, accommodation survey, business confidence survey, etc. We used the definition of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, UNWTO, as the definition agreed to by all of us.
In conclusion, when the President announces the statistics this coming Thursday, for the last year, 2012, it will be another brief in ensuring that we build towards what we want to be and that is, to be one of the top tourism destinations by 2020. Thank you, Madam Speaker. [Applause.]
Are there any objections to the Bill being read a second time?
Debate concluded. Bill read a second time.