Mnr die Voorsitter, die DP is 'n voorstaander van die devolusie van mag, en daarom sal ons hierdie wetgewing steun, want dit beteken dat toerisme nader gebring word aan die mense en gemeenskappe wat voorheen nie deel was van hierdie bedryf nie. Sodoende kan sekere streke se kultuurhistoriese aspekte maksimaal ontwikkel en benut word.
Daar is egter 'n bekommernis by ons, en dit is die feit dat die funksie afgewentel word sonder die nodige finansiering. Ek het nou geluister na wat die Minister s, maar ek sal aan die einde van my toespraak daarna verwys. Die vraag ontstaan nou watter proses gevolg word om seker te maak dat die provinsies die kapasiteit - wat ook beteken finansiering - en die mannekrag het om hierdie wetgewing, wat alle goeie doel voor o het, in werking te stel.
Hierdie gaping kan slegs gevul word met 'n oorgangsfasiliteit wat saam met die wetgewing in werking gestel word om die provinsies by te staan. Die finansiering indien enige - ek verneem nou dat Satoer 'n bydrae gaan maak - blyk slegs in die aanvangstadium te wees, met die verskoning dat dit 'n geld-genererende funksie is. Terselfdertyd is hierdie funksie egter ook ontwikkelend van aard aangesien dit gekoppel is om ekonomiese groei te stimuleer, vaardighede en entrepreneurskap te ontwikkel en die bre gemeenskap te betrek. Om te kan ontwikkel, benodig 'n mens fondse - soos die spreekwoord lui, ``money makes money.''
Aangesien Satoer nou sy eintlike funksie kan verrig om Suid-Afrika beter in die buiteland te bemark en sy funksie van die registrasie van toergidse na die provinsies kan afwentel, behoort daar ook meer fondse beskikbaar te wees, en nie net in die aanvangstadium van Satoer se rojale begroting nie. Satoer behoort te kapitaliseer op wat reeds bereik is. Dit gaan nie net oor die besteding van geld nie, maar ook oor die beste aanwending van geld.
Ek kan vir agb lede 'n voorbeeld gee. In 1998 is die MTN Whale Route bekroon met British Airways se Tourism Destination for Tomorrow Award, wat 'n baie gesogte toekenning is. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Mrs A M VERSVELD: Mr Chairperson, the DP is in favour of the devolution of power, and for that reason we shall support this legislation, because it means that tourism will be brought closer to the people and communities who were previously not part of this industry. In this way it will be possible for the cultural-history aspects of certain regions to be developed and utilised to the maximum.
However, we are worried about the fact that the function is being devolved without the necessary financing. I have listened to what the Minister has said, but I shall refer to this at the end of my speech. The question now arises as to what process is being followed to ensure that the provinces have the capacity - which also means financing - and the manpower to implement this legislation, which has good objectives.
The gap can only be bridged by means of a transitional facility which is implemented together with the legislation to assist the provinces. The financing, if any - I have been informed that Satour is going to make a contribution - is apparently being provided only in the initial stage, the excuse being that this is a money-generating function. However, this function is simultaneously also of a developmental nature as it is linked to the stimulation of economic growth, the development of skills and private enterprise and the involvement of the general community. In order to be able to develop one needs funds - as the saying goes, ``money makes money''. Since Satour can now perform its actual function of a better marketing South Africa more successfully abroad and can devolve its function of registering tour guides to the provinces, more funds should also be available, and not only in the initial stage of Satour's lavish budget. Satour ought to capitalise on what has already been achieved. What is at issue is not the spending of money, but the best utilisation of money.
I can give hon members an example. In 1998 the MTN Whale Route received British Airways' Tourism for Tomorrow Award, which is a very prestigious award.]
Whale watching is the fastest-growing ecotourism product in the world. In 1999, 7 million people went out on boat-based whale watching and 3 million on land-based whale watching.
Dit bring ons by 'n totaal van 10 miljoen mense. [This brings us to a total of 10 million people.]
We have the best land-based whale watching in the world at Hermanus. Satour has not risen to the occasion because nothing spectacular has happened, if we compare this award with the case of a little town named Kaikoura in New Zealand, which won this award two or three years ago. In this small town of indigenous Maori fishermen, their hotels have increased from none to four and their businesses have increased from three to thirty. Today this town is on an internationally recognised whale watching destination, thanks to the support of the New Zealand tourism authorities.
As dit daar gedoen kan word, kan Satoer dit ook hier vir ons doen met al die fondse wat hulle beskikbaar het.
Ten slotte wil ek net s dit is teleurstellend dat ons politici in die gekose komitee so min standpunt ingeneem het vir hulle provinsies, ook veral as ek luister na wat die Minister ges het, naamlik dat daar by al die provinsies die vrees was om hierdie wetgewing in werking te stel sonder die nodige fondse, want sover my kennis strek, is dit net die Wes-Kaap wat daarteen beswaar gemaak het. Die provinsies is tog sekerlik die rede waarom ons in die Nasionale Raad van Provinsies is, en ek wil die Minister versoek om asseblief weer te kyk na die finansiering van provinsies. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[If this can be done there, Satour can do the same for us here with all the funds they have at their disposal.
In conclusion, I just want to say is that it is disappointing that our politicians in the select committee did not make much of a stand for their provinces, especially in view of what the Minister has said, namely that all the provinces were afraid to implement this legislation without the necessary funds, because as far as I know, only the Western Cape objected to it. Surely the provinces are the reason why we are members of the National Council of Provinces, and I want to request the Minister please to take another look at the financing of provinces.]
Mr K PANDAY (KwaZulu-Natal): Chairperson, the Tourism Amendment Bill seeks to amend the Tourism Act so as to introduce a radically redesigned tourist guiding system for South Africa. I will be speaking not on the technical nature of the Bill, but on the spirit of the Bill.
In the conclusion of the document outlining the tourist guiding policy, the following is stated, and I quote:
The Bill goes a long way in ensuring that tourism becomes a big industry that benefits all South Africans especially the previously excluded and disadvantaged people.
Tour guides, who are given prominence in the Bill, have to become professionally qualified with the knowledge of areas which have been neglected in the dark years of apartheid. The KwaZulu-Natal province wants to experience an unprecedented boom in the tourism industry. Having read an article in last weekend's Sunday Times, I am more than excited and I share the sentiment that KwaZulu-Natal has the potential of becoming a tourist Mecca. I could safely say that this also holds true for the rest of South Africa.
Tourism KZN is focusing its attention on the Emakhosini Valley near Ulundi, better known as the Valley of the Kings, described by the distinguished author and humanitarian Alan Paton as the most beautiful part of South Africa. It is in this area that the great King Shaka was born and it is here that his father, Senzangakhona, lies buried. Many other noteworthy Zulu leaders who contributed to the richness of the Zulu nation and its heritage, such as the amakhosi Zulu, lie buried in this valley. Since royalty is invariably a drawcard, publicity campaigns capitalise on this by working with the Zulu royal house and by using the slogan, ``Wozani - our Kingdom calls.'' Mr Robbie Naidoo, the corporate affairs manager of tourism in KZN, says, and I quote: ``Unfortunately, we have an image problem overseas. South Africa came out tops as a holiday destination.'' Mr Naidoo also mentions that we are totally out of depth with service delivery. In KZN the Service Excellence Campaign is being initiated, in which service providers are being asked to go the extra mile. The rest of South Africa should follow suit.
In South Africa we have a proud history, despite the workings of the monstrous government of the past, in that our cultures and traditions are steeped in richness, but this is not tapped to its optimum. We have a very lucrative challenge on our hands. Tourism contributes almost R7 billion to the KZN provincial budget each year and one foreign visitor creates eight jobs nationally. KwaZulu-Natal gets 30% of international tourists and 42% of the domestic market, so the potential for growth is immense.
The British used the Cape as a halfway house to India. Without any doubt I say KwaZulu-Natal offers a permanent house to all visitors from throughout the world. KwaZulu-Natal supports the Tourism Amendment Bill. [Applause.]