Chairperson, let me acknowledge the support of my friend, Christine Mohale, the convener of the North West Women's League, and that of my colleagues from the North West.
Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, chairperson of the portfolio committee, Members of Parliament, stakeholders of the Department of Tourism, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to start by acknowledging the progress made by the department by doing an analysis of the previous structure and ensuring that things that needed urgent attention were flagged. The road to success requires one to evaluate past occurrences, which include successes, failures and areas of intervention. It is also pleasing that these steps were undertaken in the early stages, because this will go a long way in ensuring that a strong foundation is laid and also that government priorities are met. The role that is to be played by tourism in the country, as identified in Industrial Policy Action Plan 2, is crucial and cannot be overlooked. This is why constant monitoring and evaluation of these changes need to be undertaken in the near future. In the light of new trends that have developed as a result of a number of global instabilities, visitor patterns have evolved. It is only through conducting research and developing country profiles that we as South Africans can benefit from these shifts. These country profiles should be superseded by profiles that we already know, based on our marketing strategies and identification of core markets.
It is also important that we capitalise on our bilateral and multilateral co-operation agreements, such as with Brazil, India and China, as well as with Africa's emerging markets. Statistics on arrival figures have shown significant growth in regard to of our emerging markets, such as China and India, but growth in our European markets has stagnated. This does not mean that there is a decline in visitors from that region, however. This information brings a sigh of relief because it means that even though we have limitations when compared to our competitors - such as a small marketing budget and long-haul flights - we are still able to experience positive growth.
I mentioned earlier that the lessons we have already gathered through SA Tourism should not be watered down but should be incorporated into strategic policy directives that will guide approaches to our international markets. International platforms such as the UN World Tourism Organisation and World Travel and Tourism Council are very important in the growth and development of tourism in a country. It requires the custodian, which is the Department of Tourism, to develop strategies that will allow the country to leverage positive fruits from them. It is also important to note that it is through these forums that we are able to influence decisions with regard to aviation, taxes on international travel, climate change and security risks. It is for this reason too that I would like to acknowledge the role that is played by the department in these forums.
It is also important that we note and appreciate the work done by the Department of Tourism and the Department of International Relations and Co- operation, Dirco, in coming up with a strategy that acknowledges the overlapping roles between the national Department of Tourism, Dirco and the Department of Trade and Industry, DTI.
Also, for the department to effectively contribute to this fourth Parliament's priority of decent jobs and sustainable livelihoods, cohesion needs to be fostered. This should also be the case with the role played by SA Tourism in the international tourism programme. As the committee we will continue to flag any issues of concern to help keep the department focused on achieving these priorities.
The department has been productive in the past year, with the exception of a few challenges here and there, and the new tools that have been developed bring hope for change. These include the new structure, the new Tourism Bill which is still to be passed, and the new platforms that have been created, such as the National Convention Bureau.
Currently, other challenges that affect international tourism growth include issues such as insufficient market insight, inadequate strategic approaches, the global economic recession, insufficient air access, and the fact that international agreements have not been implemented and monitored. These shortcomings will have to be approached in this financial year and, through proper co-ordination with the relevant stakeholders, the department should be able to make a positive contribution to international tourism growth and development, thus increasing tourism's contribution to the gross domestic product, GDP, and, ultimately, to the country's job creation agenda.
Mutshamaxitulu, handle ko heta nkarhi wa njhekanjhekisano, eka masikunyana lama hundzeke ha ha ku heta ku tlangela Siku ra Ntshuxeko. Van'wana va vula leswaku a va swi voni leswaku xidemokirasi xi tisile yini. Hina ha swi vona eka vupfhumba bya matiko hinkwawo. Vanhu va kota ku kuma mapasi yo endza va huma va ya ematikweni man'wana. Khale a va nga koti ku suka laha va tshamaka kona va ya hambi ekusuhi, xikombiso, kwala Pitori. Leswi hi swin'wana swa leswi hi kombaka leswaku xidemokirasi xi kona laha Afrika- Dzonga.
Namuntlha hi tshamile laha hi katsanile ni valungu lava van'wana va humaka ematikweni ya le handle hambileswi va titsariseke leswaku i vaakatiko va Afrika-Dzonga. Leswi hi swin'wana swa leswi hi kombaka leswaku hi nyikile vanhu xiyimo xa vuakitiko leswaku va va vanhu va Afrika-Dzonga. (Translation of Xitsonga paragraphs follows.)
[Chairperson, without wasting any more time in this debate, in the past few days we have just finished celebrating Freedom Day. Others say that they don't see what democracy has brought about. We see it in international tourism. People are able to get passports to visit other countries. In the past they were not able to leave their places of residence, even to visit nearby places, for example, there in Pretoria. This is one of those things that indicate that we have democracy in South Africa.
Today we are seated here together with whites, some of whom hail from foreign countries, although they are registered as South African citizens. This is one of those things that indicate that we have naturalised people to become South Africans.]
With those words I would like to move that we support the department's budget and hope that the department's progress in regard to the aforementioned challenges will further advocate for budgetary increases. [Applause.]