Hon Speaker, hon members, before we get down into the nuts and bolts of the legislation, let us first put it within context, particularly of our long-term plan, the National Development Plan, NDP.
Let us start at the beginning where President Mandela said that there is no hope for development in countries that have no common purpose. This applies to our country as well. Our country needs a common purpose which has to be the beacon of light in the turbulent and dark seas of the current global climate with the intense competition it comes with. To us that common purpose has been achieved and that common purpose is the National Development Plan.
This plan was based on the situational analysis that is the diagnostic report of the Planning Commission and was supported by all political parties. It says that our country should move from being a country with very few jobs and begin to create significantly more jobs. Our country has to move away from having a crumbling infrastructure to a country that continues to expand infrastructure. It identifies our overdependence on mineral resources and advises migration to more manufacturing and service industries. It tells us to move away from exclusive planning and engages in inclusive planning among others. This Bill is, therefore, totally aligned to the National Development Plan and we are highly appreciative of that, Minister. It is inclusive, it creates jobs not within the mineral resources and it develops as infrastructure develops. Secondly, tourism has also been identified as one of the pillars in the New Growth Path, NGP, and the President has alluded to this in his state of the nation address more that once.
We also know that tourism absorbs many unskilled and semiskilled people, who form the vast majority of the unemployed in our country and that includes many youths and women. Therefore, in tourism when employment increases, it also addresses the serious problem of inequality in our country and we happen to be one of the leading countries in as far as inequality is concerned. We are taking steps to address that as demonstrated by this Act.
We see this Bill as an enabler for the tourism sector to perform even better and as our mineral resources get depleted we will continually enhance our capacity in manufacturing and services, tourism being part of the latter.
Fortunately for us, the world knows we can serve customers well. The world knows we are a safe destination. The world knows there is a very low risk of being infected in South Africa. The world knows that our roads are as safe as any other in the developed world. Yes, we have casualties. Yes, there are deaths but we are doing a lot to try and make sure that the numbers are kept low in relation to other nations.
The world also knows that South Africans are the best people on earth. They enjoyed themselves in South Africa in 2010. They also know that in joy we cry and sing; they know that in grief we cry and sing - and always with a loud vuvuzela to help us along. We know that South Africa is a very attractive destination that can draw much more people, which means that we have to prepare even better.
The challenge then is to maintain and to sustain that growth to realise the job opportunities envisaged in the National Development Plan. This Bill fits like a glove to this plan. We are going to realise more jobs. We are going to succeed and to conform to the National Development Plan in 2013. What do we hope to achieve with this Bill? Firstly, this Bill repeals the outdated 1993 legislation. It introduces regulations, rules and institutions to enable different stakeholders better, to make our destination more attractive, and to make attractions and products more appealing for more tourists to come to South Africa. It provides for sustainable growth and development in tourism. It also promotes a politically integrated approach throughout the three spheres of government.
This it does by allowing the Minister to adopt and to be part of the national tourism sector strategy on an ongoing basis as a matter of course - this we believe is a very important institution. It also introduces a National Tourism Information and Monitoring System. It legislates on tourism grading and develops enforcement mechanisms. It introduces the Tourism Protector, to protect tourism stakeholder's interests. It regulates tourism guiding, which is an important pillar in tourism. It promotes transformation as it empowers the Minister to set up a tourism development fund together with the Ministry in the Treasury.
Transformation in tourism involves many departments, many stakeholders, different levels of government and these are not under the control of tourism. So, we have to take that reality into account and try integrating processes as much as possible. Working in silos is not going to lead to a successful tourism development. It promotes transformation and it empowers the Minister to set up a tourism development fund for that purpose.
Transformation in tourism has to happen. We won't allow ourselves to fail on this matter for we know that our democracy cannot protect the few who are rich against the many that are poor. Democracy cannot protect a few rich when we are accumulating more poverty. Therefore, we take it upon ourselves to make sure that there is transformation in rural areas, urban areas, and promote women and the youth in ensuring that everybody has a stake in this democracy.
Lastly, there were a number of submissions to Parliament and the committee considered each one of them. The committee accepted some, rejected others giving reasons and made recommendations. Others which were not within the realm of tourism were referred to the relevant departments and spheres of government.
In conclusion, let me thank all those who made submissions, the department and the state law advisor for the support they gave when we needed it most. I also thank each and every member for making it possible for the committee ultimately to reach full consensus. I thank you. [Applause.]