Hon Acting Chair, the NFP welcomes the report of the department of Tourism vote 33 tabled here today. Let me at the very outset say National Freedom Party will support this report, thank you. It is also our view that it is not the sole responsibility of the Department of Tourism to ensure that tourists visit South Africa. There are many other departments that need to work on unison with the Department of Tourism and some of are like the Department of Home Affairs have a role to
play in terms of that. In fact local government even at a municipal level, in terms of their attractions in their own respect areas, should play a more pivotal role and that indeed will help the national department particularly in ensuring that we can advance course of getting more and more tourists visiting South Africa.
The argument of Airbnb it's a two fold thing, yes in deed it might provide cheaper accommodation, but I think clearly we must be honest about this, while might to certain extent create cheaper accommodations it certainly going to cost you jobs, let us be honest about that, because tourists that have been visiting for various reasons have been choosing to live in recognised hotels and bed and breakfast. Now that we have Airbnb which is not properly controlled, given the circumstances in the country, particularly with the high crime rate and the safety challenges, there is a risk attached to tourists that are visiting South Africa that may want to stay in the Airbnb.
Let me tell you I like my colleagues from DA said something about one in ten jobs in the city of Cape Town or Western Cape
is created by this Western Cape Government. What he is failing to tell you is the number of jobs that were affected, the number of tourists that dropped visiting South Africa particularly the City of Cape Town, because of the water crisis alone. Take responsibility for that and is not only the City of Cape Town, but take responsibility where you also fail, don't make it look and appears as if that the department is failing , because you fail them as well.
Which tourist is going to want to come here, you get to the airport and you want use a toilet and there is no water, which tourist is going to be...? Be realistic about it, you failed tourism, that is what you have basically done. There are some challenges in the department which are hoping Minister and Deputy Ministers you will deal with them appropriately and timeously, so that you can overcome particularly the issue of your Chief Executive Office, CEO and other acting members in the department. I think what it calls for, if all of us can get together in the interest of this country to create jobs rather going out there grandstanding and giving the negative publicity which the media is saying and for that reason it's affecting
tourism in South Africa. We belong to this country let's love this country and let's be honest. The NFP supports it.