Speaker, dis met groot trots dat ek verlede week teruggekeer het van die grootste reisskou in Afrika, die Toerisme Indaba in Durban. Daar was 1200 uitstallers van Suider-Afrika en 800 buitelandse operateurs en media. Byna 25% van die uitstallers was van die Wes-Kaap.
Once again I stood in awe of the vast opportunities that tourism offer with regards to the creation of jobs, the development of communities and as generator for economic upliftment.
Five goals for tourism
Soon after my appointment to this new post, I mentioned that I had five goals for tourism in the Western Cape, namely
- an increase in tourist traffic to the Province
- increased length of stay and average rand spend
- industry transformation
- greater involvement of townships and rural communities in the mainstream industry and
- developing a single brand for marketing purposes.
I firmly believe I am on track in terms of my goals as well as keeping a strong eye on national plans for the industry in order that the Western Cape can reap the most benefit for our region.
Padteken beleid
Om meer werk vir ons mense te skep, kan ons in die Wes-Kaap geen steen onaangeroer laat om hierdie Provinsie toerisme virendelik te maak nie. In hierdie konteks is dit my mening dat hierdie Provinsie sy beleid ten opsigte van padtekens sal moet hersien en 'n oper beleid sal moet volg. Ons pleit in die buiteland vir beleggings, en wanneer hulle miljoene rande in die Wes-Kaap investeer, dan sê ons nee jammer, geen aanwysborde na jul hotel of oord nie. Ons sal hierdie benadering moet verander. Wat padtekens betref, is ons die ander Provinsies ver agter. Ons padteken beleid het 'n struikelblok geword en dra nie meer by om die Provinsie toerisme vriendelik te maak nie.
Perception of industry for white people
Another factor inhibiting the growth of the industry, is that tourism in the Western Cape has been perceived as a business exclusively for white people. There is a need to help communities gain an understanding of tourism as a socio-economic phenomenon and in particular of its potential contribution to the economy.
Research conducted has shown that as a Province we are not yet fully open to non-whites. I therefore appeal to all stakeholders in the industry to adopt change and to open doors and most importantly welcome opportunities that are brought by the black emerging class.
Open die bedryf vir gestremdes
Om die Wes-Kaap meer toerisme vriendelik te maak, moet ons ook kyk na ons gestremde gemeenskappe. Ek was Vrydag by die Skool vir Dowes op Worcester waar ek die Dowe Kollege Afrika Eenheid geopen het.Ons is besig om geskiedenis te maak deurdat die Hoofdirektoraat: Toerisme vanjaar twee dowe studente finansier om as toeriste gidse te kwalifiseer. Ek wil die studente, Niel Laufs en Vanessa Chetty, vandag welkom heet in die Wes-Kaapse Provinsiale Parlement. Neil en Vanessa is die eerste dowe studente by die Kaapse Technikon. Die projek is nog in sy baba skoene en ons beoog om meer leerders die geleentheid te gee.
Deur die deure van toerisme vir dowe mense oop te maak, help ons dowe mense, maar ons help ook onsself want die toerisme bedryf benodig dowe toeriste gidse om dowe toeriste by te staan.
In 2005 gaan die Wêreld Kongres op Geestesgesondheid en Doofheid in die Wes-Kaap aangebied word. Duisende dowe mense gaan die Wes-Kaap besoek en ons moet voorbereid wees om in die behoeftes van dowe toeriste te voorsien.
Tourism open to all
Ultimately, community participation in tourism is a prerequisite of successful development of the sector and of ensuring that the Cape is friendly to tourists. It is our intention to ensure that tourism to the province is open to all. We are the gateway to Africa and we have a responsibility to showcase African hospitality.
Our efforts to promote "township" tourism have paid handsome dividends with increased number of visitors visiting the former disadvantaged areas near Cape Town in particular. This has added yet another destination to the itinerary of international tourists who increasingly want to interact with local people and "taste" the flavours of the countries that they visit.
I am pleased to announce that our policy of including businesses from formerly disadvantaged areas into the Indaba this year and last year is also beginning to pay dividends. This year, for example we supported 30 tourism industry newcomers to showcase their businesses at Indaba, Southern Africa's premier travel show.
Veiligheid en sekuriteit
Navorsing dui aan dat wanneer toeriste op 'n reisbestemming besluit, is veiligheid en sekuriteit die belangrikste faktore. Dis om hierdie rede dat die Wes-Kaap met vennote in die bedryf saamwerk om hierdie probleem aan te spreek.
Ons het 'n Toerisme Veiligheidsforum tot stand gebring en is besig om 'n strategiese plan te ontwikkel om die probleem aan te spreek.
There are other inner city initiatives that are aimed at addressing safety concerns within the city. The City Improvement District of the Cape Town Partnership produced visible results in the central business district. Last week figures revealed that crime is down by 60% as a result of this program. The program is at present being implemented in areas bordering central town and we look forward to these results.
I believe addressing the issue of crime in central Cape Town, will go a long way in making Cape Town in particular more friendly for tourists and increase visitor numbers to the inner city.
Addressing flight increases to Cape Town
Critically aware of the urgent need to resolve the "open skies" issue my ministry has engaged with international carriers to pursue ways and means to allow a greater inflow of international tourists into the country via Cape Town International Airport.
As you are aware, in this regard, I also recently called for an enquiry to probe the frequency of both domestic and international flights into Cape Town and their impact on tourism to the province.
This action follows widespread disenchantment among the tourism industry in the Western Cape concerning the low frequency of international and domestic flights into the Province and its detrimental impact on tourism for the area.
I have requested the Chamber of Commerce, the Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut, Fedhasa, SATSA and the Western Cape Tourism Board to nominate members to serve on a commission of enquiry to investigate inter alia:
- the existing situation relating to the frequency and number of domestic and international flights into Cape Town
- an understanding of seasonal fluctuations in domestic and international flights into the province and why they occur
- to compare the profitability of direct and indirect, domestic and international routes into the Western Cape and their impact on tourism for the province
- to identify blockages and to explore opportunities to sustain and grow tourist flights into South Africa.
International and domestic flights into Cape Town are of vital importance to the Western Cape tourism industry. Equally important is that problems and opportunities relating to the frequency of these flights be identified and addressed by all roleplayers in the Western Cape economy and in doing so, that together we can devise a plan and strategy that will benefit the Western Cape tourism industry as a whole.
I cannot emphasize too strongly how important this is if we are to reap the full benefit of the new international convention centre which I am pleased to announce is due to open one month ahead of schedule in July 2003.
The Cape Town Convention Bureau confirmed this week that just under R100-million worth of convention business has been secured between now and 2010. The positive impact of this on the local fiscus cannot beunderestimated, nor can the value of its job creation potential.
Dit is nodig dat die toerisme bedryf bevry word van al die onnodige rompslomp wat die groei van die bedryf inhibeer. In hierdie opsig sal ons voorgestelde Toerisme Ontwikkelingsraamwerk rigting aandui vir toekomstige groei.
Dit is vir my duidelik dat die begroting vir toerisme in hierdie Provinsie nie ooreenstem met sy kragtige potensiaal as werkskepper nie. Die toerisme bedryf in die Wes-Kaap is enorm en daar is baie verwagtinge en druk van ons vennote in die privaat sektor om hierdie potensiaal te ontwikkel. Ons kan dit nie doen met 'n onvanpaste begroting nie en ek gaan dit indringend laat ondersoek.
Finally, before I take my seat, I would like to pay tribute to the Western Cape winners of the AA-awards announced at the Indaba in Durban. They are a fine example of how striving towards excellence can reap rewards and bring in the returns and I congratulate them on their fine achievements. Well done, we are proud of you.
