I would like to start off by reading the following e-mail recently received by my department from Tourists (Mr. & Mrs Price) who were recently involved in an incident at Kirstenbosch Gardens

Dear Rod & Pat
We arrived home safely last Thursday and picked our three boys up. They gave us the biggest and best hugs we've ever had!
We wanted to drop you a short email to say thank you for all your help. You
both made such a difference. It wasn't very pleasant having our belongings
stolen and we could have left Cape Town with a bad impression, but the way you both handled our situation means we look back with a positive frame of mind.

In fact we have told all our friends about our adventures and how magical the
Western Cape is. They asked us if our experience had put us off Cape Town,
but because of the way you both helped us we have said we would definitely
return in the future and have no hesitation in recommending it as a holiday
destination.

It's a special place where we had so many unforgettable experiences. It was
definitely our best holiday.

We wish you all the best and when we return to Cape Town we'll look you up.
Regards
Michael and Liz

Last year on 09 December I launched the Tourist Safety & Security Plan for the festive season. Today as we lead up to our festive period I would like to once again reflect on the essence of this plan.

This programme is still the culmination of the efforts of all the role-players in our province responsible for maintaining the safety and security of tourists to our province.

Last year the programme was still in its infancy. One year later the team operating the system has grown in their experience and approach towards the matter.

During last years festive programme over 40 tourism related incidents were reported and handled. There have been an additional 100 incidents from
01 April 2005 to date.

The programme has grown to receive recognition and support from SAPS, emergency services, embassies, key role players and tourism stakeholders and the media.

Some of the incidents made news headlines. Others were resolved without much interference from our side, but it is still a great pity that we are obliged to intervene in the first place.

This month there have been more than 15 Tourism related incidents(including the Price family). Most were handled professionally and with increased understanding and care by SAPS and other roleplayers

Tourism remains a major driver of economic development in the Western Cape and we must protect the sector. In fact some refer to tourism as the new gold - as indeed it is.

Tourism accounts for approximately 9.8% of Gross Regional Product and employs 9.6% of the Western Cape's workforce. Tourism is an important source of income for the Province of the Western Cape. This importance is underpinned by the fact that it makes an annual direct injection of R21 billion to the Provincial economy.

It is therefore vital to protect its reputation that it is safe to visit the Western Cape. In fact, we must establish a reputation of being a safe and fun destination to visit.

I wish to confirm that whilst Safety and Security is not our core business it is part of our tourism safety and security forum strategy to:

· work with existing initiatives
· establish partnerships with role players
· develop an integrated approach between stakeholders and roleplayers
· develop and maintain an ongoing reactive Tourism Victim Support Programme
· develop and maintain a pro active awareness campaign through safety tips and information cards

It was also our intention that Cape Town Tourism would be used as a pilot project for this programme. I am pleased to announce that the plan for the Cape Town region has been completed and presented to all its members.

The Tourism Safety and Security programme is in the process of being rolled out to the rest of the province with comprehensive planning in the Southern Cape and West Coast regions at an advanced stage.

All this, is to ensure that the Province has the capability not only to welcome but also care for the hundreds of thousands of overseas guest anticipated in this period and beyond.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the aim of the Safety and Security Programme is to ensure that in the event of any misfortune befalling a visitor - both domestic and international - to our province, they would know whom to contact for assistance.

The officials responsible for implementing The Safety and Security Programme for tourists will continue to find appropriate accommodation, liaise with other government officials on behalf of tourists, facilitate temporary travel documents, offer comfort, visit patients in hospital, debrief embassies and generally provide care for tourists under difficult circumstances.

Once again this year, we will embark on an extensive marketing drive to popularise the emergency numbers of the police, emergency services, ambulance services, and the Office of the Consumer Protector at sites frequented by tourists, through newspaper adverts and other forms of communication.

This campaign is not only aimed at the physical well being of tourists but we are also providing a platform to handle consumer related complaints, such as the quality of a product or service provided. The Office of the Consumer Protector will have dedicated staff to pro-actively manage tourist complaints and will ensure that timeous follow-up and feedback is provided. This can only improve our service excellence.

I must, however, emphasise that the Department's support does not in any way replace existing security and emergency initiatives, but rather serves as a complementary function. In the case of an emergency, the existing emergency numbers must be activated by our tourists. This is the core message of our campaign.

I therefore wish to thank:
· The SAPS and other Protection Services
· The Medical Emergency Services
· Hospitals and trauma counselling services
· Consular staff
· Key roleplayers (particularly the airlines)
· The Department of Community Safety
· Cape Town Routes Unlimited and Cape Town Tourism
· Tourism stakeholders
· Community and Volunteer Organisations (NSRI, Surf lifesaving, Mountain Rescue and others)
· The media and general public.

for their support and dedication to everyone's safety and security.

For this festive season we want to ensure that in the event of an emergency, tourists know whom to contact. But most importantly, we want our tourists to relax and enjoy themselves.

I want to take this opportunity of wishing all a safe, secure and happy festive period. Let us enjoy our destination in a responsible and caring way.