South Africa today, celebrated World Tourism Day (WTD) in Kimberley in the Northern Cape under the theme, "Tourism: Celebrating Diversity". In her keynote address, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Ms Tokozile Xasa, said Tourism is a catalyst in driving the economic development globally and if managed well it will benefit communities and reduce poverty in line with national priorities.
27 September was declared World Tourism Day by the United Nations in 1979. It is a day where the tourism industry worldwide celebrates the impact of the tourism sector on world economies as well as on improving the lives of people. Travel and Tourism represents some five percent of GDP of G20 countries and 27% of their services exports. This sector is more significant for the world's poorest countries where it is a mainstay of their economies, a key factor in employment and trade as well as a vital lifeline for their development.
Tourism is one of the major contributors to South Africa's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It contributes about eight percent to the GDP and creates about one million jobs both directly and indirectly. The recession has had a negative impact on our economy; however tourism has helped the country sustain the impact of the global downturn. In 2008, South Africa welcomed more than nine million visitors.
On the other hand domestic travel declined by eight percent in 2008 with 32,9 million trips being undertaken compared to the 35,9 million in 2007. However revenue generated from domestic tourism in 2008 was approximately R25,8 billion, an increase of 29% in nominal terms over the R20 billion generated in 2007. This means that in nominal terms, spend increased by 29%, but in real terms it grew by 17% meaning that domestic tourists did spend more in South Africa in 2008 and that the increase was not only due to inflationary increases.
Deputy Minister Xasa indicated the department is developing a Tourism Sector Strategy that will determine the key priorities, focus areas and objectives of the new Department of Tourism, of which domestic tourism is one of them. She added that initiatives like the Shot' Left Campaign needs to be further intensified so that we can be able to grow and sustain a robust domestic travel market in South Africa.
In Celebrating Diversity, provinces today showcased their different attractions and heritage sites through exhibitions. They included amongst others the Cradle of Human Kind from Gauteng and the Taung skull from North West.
With only 254 days to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Deputy Minister Xasa said this event gives us an opportunity to market our country and fully promote various aspects of tourism. She added that the World Cup provides an opportunity for meaningful, sustainable and inclusive implementation of the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment that ensures the improvement percentage directed at blacks and women suppliers in particular.
The Deputy Minister said that The FIFA World Cup gives us an opportunity to market our country and fully promote various aspects of Tourism from remote nature reserves and game reserves and many cultures. We can promote the state of the art entertainment facilities that will reflect and make people from different countries understand that we have the best to offer. It affords us a once in a life time opportunity to showcase the best we have as a tourist destination: our people, our natural heritage, our world class infrastructure and a sense of a place that fills all of us with pride. In essence, the 2010 FIFA World Cup provides an unparalleled opportunity to enhance the brand awareness of South Africa as a premier tourist destination, she emphasised.
Xasa also acknowledged that Tourism is one of the less transformed sectors of our economy. She however indicated that the efforts are being undertaken to make it more inclusive through initiatives like the Emerging Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year Awards (ETEYA). Entry into the ETEYA competition is open to blacks (as defined in the Constitution) entrepreneurs operating small, micro and medium level tourism or hospitality-related businesses. It is limited to businesses that have been operating for fewer than five years, employing fewer than 50 people, with an annual turnover not exceeding R5 million.
The finalists who each received R10 000 to help boost their businesses and will all be flown to Germany in March next year to participate in ITB, a leading global travel trade show are, Jeya Jazz Corner Tavern from Eastern Cape, Bella Bonni Guest House in Mpumalanga, Nare Travel Tours from North West, M'Hudi Wines from the Western Cape, Tsheola Dinare Tours from Gauteng, Tiveka Game Lodge from Limpopo, Siyeza Car Rental from KwaZulu Natal, Emzini Guest House in the Free State and Repa Guest House from the Northern Cape.
The host province for the 2010 World Tourism Day celebrations is Limpopo.
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Issued by: Department of Tourism
29 September 2009
