Deputy Speaker, with tourism in South Africa being one of the few sectors on a steadily increasing growth trajectory, it must, as is stated in this Report, receive priority status.
We see tourist hot spots such as Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden recording more than a million visitors. The number of people who visited the City of Durban last year increased by 13% over the previous year. The fact is that tourism remains a sector that contributes to our economy and creates employment.
I was unable to attend the oversight visit due to prior party commitments but I am fully supportive of the objectives and outcomes in the Report and of this portfolio committee.
One issue that I would like to raise, though, is that of visa regulations. The current status quo, of bureaucracy and red tape, surrounding the issue of tourism visas to South Africa is a hindrance and obstacle to greater tourism growth. We must move quickly into a visa-issuing regime that is fast and user-friendly. We must be able to compete not only globally but also on the continent as a tourist destination.
In this respect we fully support calls for a shift to an e-visa regime, as well as the introduction of innovations like visa-free regions such as the one currently being used by the Economic Community of West African States, Ecowas, or the single-destination tourist visa currently in use by Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.
We believe these will be the keys to unlocking the full potential of South Africa as a high tourist-growth destination country. Thank you.