1. How has the Tourism Safety Plan been operationalised to mitigate such incidents and ensure a secure environment for both domestic and international visitors.
I have been informed by the Department that the Tourism Safety Plan has been implemented since 2018. The Tourism Safety plan has initiatives that speak to the three main themes that form part of the strategy. The bulk of the initiatives form part of the “Proactive Measures” which are those initiatives that have to be put in place even before an incident happens, to minimise the risks. Some of the initiatives that were operationalised include:
The Tourism Monitors Programme – this programme entails the recruitment and training of young unemployed youth, who are then deployed at the various identified attractions and to assist the tourist with basic tourism related and safety information.
Identification of the hot spots – This process is about understanding some of the key areas where most of the crimes/attacks against tourist take place. Such information will not only assist in putting measures to counter such attacks in the identified areas but will also ensure that the risks of attacks to tourists is minimised.
Police Reservists – The department together with SAPS made a call up for police reservists back in 2019 as part of ensuring police visibility especially in Mpumalanga then, following a spate of follow-ons.
The department has over the years conducted “tourist safety awareness” sessions jointly with SAPS and other security structures in the various provinces.
Establishment of Provincial Tourism Safety Forums (PTSF) – the department has been instrumental in the establishment of the PTSF.
(2) Whether she will furnish Ms H Ismail with a thorough assessment of the implementation of the specified plan, including the
a) Strategies:
The National Tourism Sector Strategy’s pillar three on “Visitor Experiences” demands that there should be a plan of safety. It’s on that premise that department developed that National Tourism Safety Strategy in 2018 and the current plan being implemented is based on the strategy.
(b) Resources:
Tourism Monitors programme is funded through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).
(c) Partnerships leveraged to address the challenge; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details
The 2018 strategy was developed through a partnership between government and tourism private sector. The implementation has over the year been more government lead but recently the Minister had conducted a session with both private and public sectors to assess the progress on implementation and to ensure that private sector also contributes to the strategy implementation.
On Monday 29 May 2023, I held a multi-sector Tourism Safety Dialogue, which included a range of stakeholders including the National Department of Tourism, provincial tourism departments and agencies as well as the private sector.
The dialogue agreed to the full implementation of the Terms of Reference of the National Safety Forum, the Memorandum of Understanding with the South African Police Service and the use of technology to further mitigate the impact of crime on local and international tourists.
This meeting will, now, be held quarterly in a bid to track implementation and progress.