Chairperson, hon Minister, members, the economy is often characterised as an engine, and I would like to characterise tourism as a motive force in that engine.
Economic statistics have it that tourism constitutes approximately 10% of the world's economy and about 6% of South Africa's. Some 66% of all foreign visitors stop over in Gauteng province. The value of this market is estimated at over R6 billion per year and the domestic tourism market further contributes approximately R30 billion per year.
If one returns to the characterisation of the engine and examines more closely the tourism component, one will see that currently the major part of this economic activity remains in the formal sector.
For instance, Gauteng achieved 51% of the country's share of tourism and leisure investment between 1994 and 1998 and 16% of the growth in hotel accommodation. This is all very wonderful and great for the economy at large. However, how does this affect our people? What is the impact on the poorest of the poor? What is the impact on the previously disadvantaged communities and individuals? Yes, the economy at large does have a trickle- down impact on these communities, but the Tourism Amendment Bill will have a direct impact on these individuals and communities.
To return again to the engine analogy, if the economy is the engine and tourism the motive force, then tourist guides are an indispensible cog in that engine, albeit a small cog with the ability to gear up the engine to stronger and stronger power. Bringing the regulation of tourist guides down to the provincial level allows a more hands-on transformation of the industry.
The Gauteng tourism authority has already appointed a registrar of tourist guides, in terms of our own legislation, who started work this month. Of course, we shall apply to the Minister now that we know that funds are available.
We will be able to control recruitment, training and marketing of tourist guides from previously disadvantaged areas. For instance, last week we launched a tourist route in Alexandra township, arguably one of the most disadvantaged areas in our province, particularly as it is found cheek by jowl with arguably one of the richest areas in our province, Sandton.
We also presented certificates to 12 newly qualified tourist guides in Alex. To take these 12 individuals as an example of what is possible, they are able to describe the microeconomy of Alex and Sandton and to show tourists a well-researched route which includes the house where former President Mandela lived when he first came to Johannesburg.
By bringing tourists into Alex, these SA tourist guides will encourage the spending of tourist dollars there. Already there are people opening restaurants and backpackers' venues and other people are working hard at developing crafts such as pottery and beadwork so as to encourage the same spending.
Obviously this has a direct economic benefit to the people of Alex. This in turn will have an effect on the morale of the residents, to such an extent that crime will decrease and pride will grow in their environment so that people will start to clean up the streets and the plastic bags and Alex will become a better place in which to live.
I am saying that not only does tourism gear up the economy, but this legislation, the Tourism Amendment Bill, will go a long way towards the social transformation of our country. We will move away from apartheid divisions, where blacks remain in their townships and whites stay in wealthy suburbs and never the twain shall meet.
The Tourism Amendment Bill will encourage internal tourism, in terms of which tour guides will take groups of people, whether they be groups of adults, groups of elderly people, church groups, social clubs, or scholars in groups from schools, and show them life on the other side of the line.
I would like to emphasise the nation-building potential of such exercises. People will come to understand the other side of life in South Africa, and contribute to a mutual understanding. Hence will come a reduction in the fear of one another, and from there will flow a willingness to work together for the betterment of all the people of the land.
Gauteng supports this Bill. [Applause.]