Chairperson, the province regards tourist guiding as a facet of tourism with a potential to contribute to greater community involvement and economic growth. We believe that tourist guiding has an ability to draw previously marginalised communities into the mainstream of the tourism industry. Devolving the tourist guide functions to provinces should not be viewed as a separate aspect, but should be integrated within broader economic and human resource development strategies. It is important for national Government to carefully examine practical and factual issues connected with the devolving of the tourist guiding functions.
The Western Cape strongly supports the main aim of the Bill, which is to redesign the tourist guide system in South Africa in order to develop opportunities to experience and promote pride in the cultural resources, histories and voices of the people of South Africa, and believes that this will result in the development of opportunities for all people to experience the wealth, assets and attractions of tourism. The Western Cape takes cognisance of the enabling element within the Bill, which is the most important aspect and which relates to broadening access to and entry into the tourism industry.
The Bill proposes that tourist guide functions be devolved to provinces. It calls for the provincial Minister responsible for tourism to designate an officer to act as provincial registrar of tourist guides. The officer concerned would be responsible for registering provincial guides, setting up standards and monitoring complaints. The status quo reflects that more than 40% of registered tourist guides are from the Western Cape, which is equal to 2 499 guides. To renew licences, an amount of R60 is paid annually. The current figures indicate that the province stands a chance of generating R149 940 per annum in undertaking the function.
Since the highest number of tourist guides are concentrated in the Western Cape, the province will have to appoint a provincial registrar and an administration officer to effectively undertake the function. The existing system which is currently used by Satour would be transferred to provinces and there would be a need to purchase new computer hardware to execute the function. Undertaking the function would mean additional administrative functions for the province, which might sometimes involve the handling of appeals.
Ons het ook bekommernisse. Die wetsontwerp maak nie voorsiening vir oorgangsmaatrels ten opsigte van die oordrag van die funksies na provinsies nie. Dit maak nie voorsiening vir die registrasie van seisoenale gidse nie, waarvan die meeste in die Wes-Kaap gebaseer is. Daar is tans geen duidelikheid oor die huidige kostes deur Satoer oorgedra aan die provinsies nie, en ek glo daarna sal gekyk moet word.
Die Wes-Kaap het ook 'n probleem met die afwenteling van die funksie, maar nie met die gepaardgaande oordrag van sodanige fondse nie. Dit is voorheen ook al hier genoem, en ek glo fondse moet die funksie volg wanneer dit afgewentel word. Die aangeleentheid was ook al, soos agb lede weet, in die Minmec ter sprake. 'n Voorstel gebaseer op bogenoemde is aan die departement gedoen om langtermynoplossings te ondersoek en provinsiale en mediumtermyn-bestedingsraamwerktoekennings aan te pas om moontlik die funksies te akkommodeer.
Die Wes-Kaap begryp die belang van toerismeleiding in die sektor. Die Wes- Kaap verwelkom die voorgestelde aanbevelings aangesien dit die provinsie in staat sal stel om 'n provinsiale toergidsontwikkelingsprogram te vestig om toergidse op te lei en te registreer in ooreenstemming met nasionale toergidsregulasies. Die Wes-Kaap glo dat die aangeleentheid ten opsigte van die fondse wel nog verder opgeklaar moet word. Dit moet gedoen word voordat die wetsontwerp goedgekeur word, en moet gekommunikeer word aan alle provinsies wat hierby 'n belang het. Ek wil afsluit deur namens die provinsie te s dit was lekker om die Minister weer hier in die Huis te sien. Ons weet as hy nog Minister vir Provinsiale en Plaaslike Regering was, sou die verkiesingsdatum teen hierdie tyd seker al klaar aangekondig gewees het! [Tussenwerpsels.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[We also have some concerns. The Bill does not make provision for interim measures with regard to the transfer of functions to provinces. It does not make provision for the registration of seasonal guides, most of whom are based in the Western Cape. There is no clarity at present about the current costs transferred by Satour to the provinces, and I believe that must be attended to.
The Western Cape also has a problem with the devolution of the function, but not with the accompanying transfer of such funds. This has been mentioned here before, and I believe that funds should follow the function once it has been devolved. As hon members know, this matter has already been discussed at Minmec. A proposal based on the above-mentioned has been made to the department to investigate long-term solutions and to adjust provincial and medium-term expenditure framework allocations to possibly accommodate the functions.
The Western Cape comprehends the importance of tourism leadership in the sector. The Western Cape welcomes the proposed recommendations since this will enable the province to establish a provincial tour guide development programme to train and register tour guides in accordance with national tour guide regulations. The Western Cape believes that the matter with regard to the funds does require further clarification. This should be done before the Bill is approved and must be communicated to all provinces having an interest in this matter.
I would like to conclude by saying, on behalf of the province, that it was good to see the hon the Minister here in the House again. We know that if he were still Minister for Provincial and Local Government, the election date would by this time already have been announced! [Interjections.]]