Chairperson, hon Minister, Deputy Minister and members, my colleague Greg Krumbock has very eloquently highlighted some of the most important national issues regarding this Budget Vote. Therefore, I will focus on two specific national and two provincial issues that I have come across in the short period of time that I have been a member of this portfolio committee.
Minister Van Schalkwyk, I would like to inform you that oversight and the oversight role of Members of Parliament are very dear to my heart. Normally it is quite easy to find flaws or problems in the workings of most government departments. However, I have to state that the Department of Tourism is one of the most well run departments I have come across. I have to compliment you, as well as your team, on that. The department's programmes are well planned and implemented.
Recently in an in-flight magazine I read an article about the fact that out of more than 1000 establishments across South Africa that claim to be wheelchair-friendly, less than a quarter had suitable facilities. The director-general, when asked about the problem, stated that the department was currently working without a specific legal framework to rectify this problem, and that discussions would have to ensue between the department dealing with disability issues and the Department of Tourism.
Therefore, it is heartening to note that the Tourism Grading Council of SA has developed new criteria that include one for universal accessibility. Plans are under way for the development of a universal accessibility in tourism action plan. Workshops were held in six provinces by tourism associations. This falls under Programme 3 of the department, which deals with tourism growth.
A lot has been said about domestic tourism. One of the key issues is the role of local authorities and the fact that their efforts should be co- ordinated within the provincial tourism growth strategy.
Coming from the North West province, which only managed to get 6% of domestic tourists in 2010, I have to address the following two issues.
Firstly, there is the proposed Highveld National Park just outside Potchefstroom. After lengthy and complicated negotiations to establish this park, spanning 15 years and involving Minister Edna Molewa in her former capacities as MEC and later as premier, the park was fenced off with an electric game fence and plans were introduced to import game into the park. However, nothing came of the widely publicised imminent opening of the park.
Today large sections of the fencing have been stolen, small farmers farming with livestock have invaded the park, and millions invested in conservation and tourism have gone astray. The remaining game in the park are under continuous pressure, caused by traps and snaring, as well as dog-assisted hunting.
The inability of the different role-players, including but not limited to the National Parks Board and the North West Parks and Tourism Board, to establish and set up a park to protect, preserve and promote one of the last remaining and unique intersections between the savannah and grassland biomes, accommodating interesting plant communities from both of them, may well be a serious indictment by future generations of ours.
Secondly, the condition of provincial roads in the North West, as well as roads in tourism destinations such as the Pilanesberg National Park, have deteriorated to such an extent that advisories are out to warn visitors not to use certain roads. The roads situation is aggravated by the inability of the North West roads department to spend its maintenance budget on road maintenance. The road condition in the Pilanesberg has also deteriorated to such an extent that travelling in sedan vehicles has become a risk.
It is clear that the North West province's inability to properly maintain its roads and its parks and reserves impacts negatively on the province as a tourist destination in close proximity to Gauteng. National support and possible intervention should be considered.
One of the department's key objectives is to encourage more South Africans to enjoy the experiences our country has to offer. I hope that the work that the department is doing at the national level will also have a positive effect on the domestic tourism figures in the North West.
Lastly Minister, I have noticed the increase in identification of niche markets for tourism. Cape Town has been leading in that field with a study conducted on niche markets like backpacking and ecotourism. An interesting concept that I came across for the first time was avitourism: staying somewhere overnight and observing birds. This is not the type of bird- watching that tourists at Clifton Beach get up to! [Laughter.] The cruise tourism that you launched in November also comes to mind.
Tongue in cheek, I would like to assure you of the continued loyal support for the niche market of wine tourism as, according to you, this was one of the fastest growing and most lucrative sectors of the tourism market and also one that contributed an estimated R4,3 billion to our country's tourism revenue. I thank you. [Applause.]