As I have indicated, you see, the revival of the brand South Africa and the selling of South Africa is a collective responsibility. All of us have a responsibility to sell South Africa. We have a responsibility to be patriotic. We have a responsibility to show to the world that we are a good country.
We have managed to host a big event like the 2010 Soccer World Cup without any incident. That means we do have that ability to be positive. Therefore it is a collective responsibility of all of us to work together. We are currently planning together with Brand SA
to see how we can go out there and talk positive about South Africa and tell the world what South Africa is able to offer, so that we are able to attract as many people as possible.
I agree with you. Those are big spenders. That's why, when we were looking at prioritising the visa waivering, the Gulf region was prioritised because we know that when they come here, they are able to spend.
As you might be aware, the UAE last month launched their biggest airline that will leave from OR Tambo. That is a positive development as well.
But, as you have said, we will have to work together very hard and make sure that we create this positivity about ourselves as a country.
The issue of crime, I still emphasise, remains the biggest obstacle. That's why we are mobilising business ... we are mobilising everybody ... communities ... we are working with the community police forum in various provinces so that we are able to make sure that create a safer environment.
But, equally, we have also agreed with the police that they will begin to segregate tourism crime from ordinary crime so that we are able to have the facts and the statistics as how many tourists get mugged, attacked, etc ...
When we were looking at the figure ... for example, Germany has highly decreased. And when we look at the reasons ... because the ... one of the total bus ... their buses were once hijacked. And that has a huge impact, negatively so.
So it is a matter that all of us must say, it can't be done in our name. We must work very hard and make sure that we create a safer community and safer environment for South Africans and for tourists so that they are able to be sure when they come to South Africa that they are safe.
Question 177: