Deputy Speaker, the Portfolio Committee on Tourism conducted these study tours to the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga. Broadly speaking, the purposes of the oversight visits were around the government's five priorities, which are accelerated and inclusive growth of the economy to create decent work and sustainable livelihoods; redistributive growth; promoting rural development; skills development; and fighting crime and corruption.
Given the fact that tourism is a concurrent competency according to our Constitution, it was important to look at how the three spheres communicate and align themselves in this sector. We shall highlight a few common points of interest, as the details are in the written reports. Officials in all towns and districts should understand the value of their attractions for tourism and strive to maintain and improve road infrastructure, including an improvement of their signage.
In the Eastern Cape resorts with very high potential are virtually inaccessible because of the state of the roads. Examples are Coffee Bay and Mbashe Mouth. Because of the importance of creating jobs and sustainable livelihoods, these should receive immediate attention. It is increasingly important to improve alignment in the industry and, in the process, empower rural towns to deliver more and better jobs as well as enterprises.
The third point is that the delays in concession arrangements and tendering processes, as well as adjustments that are far above inflation rates charged by some game reserves, have a destructive impact on many job- creating enterprises. Making air travel to destinations like Nelspruit, Mthatha, East London, Bloemfontein and Kimberley more affordable will promote both domestic and international tourism, according to stakeholders.
Skills development is critical to sustain tourism destinations and to make them attractive, sustainable and globally competitive. Many local people have lost their jobs and livelihoods in Pilgrim's Rest in Mpumalanga because of poor facility and infrastructure maintenance of the town. Here we are talking about the first African place to have electricity and a place that has great heritage value. This town had electricity even before London was electrified. This town, oddly, is owned by the Department of Public Works, but people expect delivery from local and provincial governments.
Co-operative governance and stakeholder engagement is critical to resolve this issue. There were a number of highlights that deserve special mention. Firstly, Mpumalanga has a wonderful win-win crime-fighting arrangement with the community of Blyde River Canyon, where community members work very successfully and effectively with the police to combat crime, particularly against tourists. The committee was quite impressed by this. Secondly, committee members were very impressed by the Mpumalanga regional training task model. This model has different entry levels. It recognises prior learning and works with tertiary institutions. It has a hotel and restaurants for training and dining, and is also affordable. The passionate leadership of the principal and his staff was really exemplary. We believe that, given the reality of our well-documented performance in education, that model, given a chance, will mitigate the problem of the skills shortage caused by the nature of our education.
There are impressive road developments around Qunu and Mvezo, both of the national roads and access roads to the villages. Conference facilities are being built. Guesthouses and other facilities were built where Mandela grew up. This will bring a lot of business and jobs to the area. At the time of the visit, everyone in the village of Mvezo was employed. Many were employed by the Expanded Public Works Programme, EPWP, under the Department of Tourism. Yes, EPWP works.
Before we conclude, let me personally thank every member of the delegation for the maturity they displayed right throughout the visits. That is what we need to make South Africa work. We also thank in particular our host in Mpumalanga, Dr Phakade, who was with us right throughout the tour. Our motherland is indeed beautiful to many tourists and to many South Africans, and she deserves to be recognised, promoted and advertised.
To many tourists, it is a land of beautiful people, scenery, experiences and memories that make wonderful dreams, which inspire many tourists to want to come back to our motherland. The Portfolio Committee on Tourism proposes the adoption of the reports. Thank you.
There was no debate.
The Acting Deputy Chief Whip of the Majority Party: Deputy Speaker, I move:
That the Reports be adopted.
Motion agreed to.
Report on Tourism on Oversight Visit to Eastern Cape from 18 to 22 June 2012 accordingly adopted.
Report on Tourism on Oversight Visit to Mpumalanga from 4 to 8 June 2012 accordingly adopted.
Report on Tourism on Oversight Visit to Eastern Cape from 30 July to 3 August 2012 accordingly adopted.