The National Department of Tourism received an unqualified audit for the period 2010/11. In its first-ever presentation of the Annual Report to the Portfolio Committee on Tourism in parliament today, the department highlighted that no material findings on the annual performance report concerning the presentation, usefulness and reliability of the information were made by the Auditor-General.
The mandate of the department has expanded, following the announcement by the President in May 2009 that a separate Ministry for Tourism would be created. The National Department of Tourism (NDT) aims to fulfil one of government’s strategic priorities, which is to create the conditions for the growth and development of responsible tourism growth by promoting and developing the tourism sector.
The portfolio committee across the board expressed pride in the achievements of the department and great satisfaction with it receiving an unqualified report from the Auditor-General. In particular, the progress made by the department in the areas of transformation and human capital was lauded. Although the department achieved 80% of its targets overall it managed to exceed individual targets such as:
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Employment Equity targets: ensuring representation of designated groups in the workforce
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Exceeded procurement targets to promote transformation into procurement from B-BBEE or BEE enterprises
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Payment of all service providers within the prescribed 30 days deadline target.
Furthermore, the year 2010 was particularly significant, given the boost provided by the hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup to the image of South Africa as a tourist destination. The full implementation of the Tourism 2010 Plan by the NDT allowed South Africa to meet all its obligations to FIFA with regard to hospitality.
The National Minimum Standards for Responsible Tourism (NMSRT) were published as a South African National Standard on 28 March 2011. The department also launched the National Tourism Sector Strategy (NTSS), which has set a course for accelerating the responsible growth of the tourism industry from 2010 to 2015.
The strategy was compiled through a comprehensive consultative process, including ministerial road shows, specific strategy stakeholder workshops, a web-based survey, a report compiled by a carefully selected panel of experts, and both inter-governmental and cabinet consultation led by the Ministry.
During the presentation, the department demonstrated how its programmes and policies aim to increase job and entrepreneurial opportunities and encourage meaningful participation of previously disadvantaged communities and individuals. The focus is on facilitating the growth of the tourism industry by providing support to the public and private sectors, the broader community, and increasing the sector’s contribution to job creation and the country’s gross domestic product.
In line with its vision of growing and developing an equitable, competitive and sustainable tourism sector, enhancing its contribution to national priorities, the NDT’s key priorities include: increasing investment in the tourism sector; providing decent work; addressing people development; leading the world in environmentally sustainable tourism; increasing the numbers of foreign tourists to the country while developing and entrenching a culture of travel amongst South Africans.
Enquiries:
Trevor Bloem
Tel: 012 444 6607
Cell: 082 771 6729
E-mail: tbloem@tourism.gov.za
Mpumi Simelane
Tel: 021 444 6612
Cell: 082 354 1510
E-mail: msimelane@tourism.gov.za
