SOUTH AFRICA YEARBOOK 2017/18 Tourism 2 South Africa Yearbook 2017/18 • Tourism Tourism remains a key driver of South Africa’s national economy stakeholders such as development finance institutions and Government in developing and managing tourism. and contributes to job creation. The tourism industry is a major commercial banks on enterprise development awareness In terms of the Act, responsible tourism is tourism which: contributor to the South African economy and employment of sessions in all nine provinces. These sessions included the • seeks to avoid negative economic, environmental and social citizens. Tourism Incentive Programme (TIP) and the Amended Tourism impacts Tourism contributed R136,1 billion, about 2.9% of the country’s B-BBEE Sector Codes. • generates greater economic benefits for local people, total GDP in 2017. It directly and indirectly supported about 1,5 The NDT’s strategic goals over the medium term are to: enhances the wellbeing of host communities and improves million jobs in 2017, 9.5% of total employment, and there is • maximise domestic tourism and foreign tourist arrivals in working conditions and access to the tourism sector potential to grow employment in the sector to 2,1 million jobs by South Africa • involves local people in decisions that affect their lives 2028. This is especially significant as government, business and • expand domestic and foreign investment in the South African • makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural many social partners are collaborating to accelerate economic tourism industry and cultural heritage and to the maintenance of the worldʼs growth and employment. • expand tourist infrastructure diversity The development of inclusive tourism for the benefit of all • improve the range and quality of tourist services • provides enjoyable experiences for tourists through South Africans had an additional significance in 2018, as the • improve the tourist experience and value for money meaningful connections with local people and a greater country celebrated the centenaries of Tata Nelson Mandela and • improve research and knowledge management understanding of local cultural, social and environmental Mama Albertina Sisulu. • contribute to growth and development issues The National Tourism Sector Strategy (NTSS) was approved • expand the tourism share of GDP • provides access for people with physical challenges by Cabinet in December 2017. It seeks to make the country’s • improve competitiveness and sustainability in the tourism • is culturally sensitive, engenders respect between tourists international and domestic marketing more effective, facilitate sector and hosts, and builds local pride and confidence. easier travel to South Africa, improve the visitor experience, better • strengthen collaboration with tourist organisations. The mandate of the NDT, as outlined in the Tourism Act, manage the country as a destination, and spread the benefits of The inflow of tourists to South Africa is the result of the success 1993 (Act 72 of 1993), is to promote sustainable growth and tourism to more South Africans by including more black people, of policies aimed at entrenching South Africaʼs status as a major development in the tourism sector. women, youth and rural communities in the tourism value chain. international tourism and business events destination. The 1996 White Paper on the Development and Promotion of During the year under review, the department’s Enterprise Tourism in South Africa provides for the promotion of domestic Development Programme supported 400 entrepreneurs in a Legislation and policies and international tourism. business incubation programme in the rural Pilanesberg region, The NDT operates under the following legislation and policies: The Tourism Act of 1993 provides for: some of who saw an increase in their occupancy rate by up to The Tourism Act, 2014 (Act 3 of 2014) provides for the • promoting tourism to and in South Africa 15%. Elsewhere, community tourism enterprises was supported development and promotion of sustainable tourism for the benefit • regulating and rationalising the tourism industry to enter the tourism value chain. of South Africa, its residents and its visitors. It also provides for • implementing measures aimed at the maintenance and Through its Incubator Programme, the department also added the continued existence of the South African Tourism Board, the enhancement of the standards of facilities and services hired two more incubators in Phalaborwa and Mier, The two existing establishment of the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa out or made available to tourists incubators in Pilanesberg and Manyeleti are now in their second (TGCSA), and the regulation of the tourist guide profession. • coordinating and rationalisating the activities of people who year of operation and are already bearing fruit. The Act aims to: are active in the tourism industry The incubation model is aimed at ensuring that communities • promote the practising of responsible tourism for the benefit • establishing a board with legal powers around tourist attraction hubs benefit from economic opportunities of South Africa and for the enjoyment of all its residents and • authorising the Minister of Tourism to establish a grading found in those areas. visitors and classification scheme in respect of accommodation In response to growing the economy, the department • provide for the effective domestic and international marketing establishments has developed a Tourism B-BBEE portal to accelerate the of South Africa as a tourist destination • authorising the Minister to establish schemes for prescribed empowerment of SMMEs in the sector. This will facilitate • promote quality tourism products and services sectors of the tourism industry partnerships for market access with large enterprises. • promote growth in and development of the tourism sector • registering tourist guides The department has engaged communities and key • enhance cooperation and coordination between all spheres of • prohibiting any person to act for gain as a tourist guide unless 3 South Africa Yearbook 2017/18 • Tourism he or she has been registered as a tourist guide in terms of To date, there are 45 South African beaches that have been awarded Kleinmond Beach, near Hermanus the Act. Blue Flag status, and several others are in the pilot phase. Lappiesbaai Beach, Stilbaai To achieve Blue Flag status, 33 main criteria covering four aspects Llandudno Beach, Cape Town of coastal management have to be met. These four aspects are Lookout Beach, near Plettenberg Bay Budget and funding water quality, environmental education and information, environmen- Melkbosstrand Beach, Cape Town The 2017 department’s budget allocation amounted to tal management, and safety and services. Mnandi Beach, Cape Town The Blue Flag programme is a recognised international accred- Muizenberg Beach, Cape Town R2.140 billion of which R296.853 million was allocated to itation initiative that acknowledges excellence in maintaining the Nature’s Valley Beach, near Plettenberg Bay fund compensation of employees, R299.860 million to goods highest standards of environmental management, safety, services Preekstoel Beach, near Still Bay and services and R1.321 billion to transfer and subsidies and and amenities. Robberg 5th Beach, Plettenberg Bay South Africa was the first country, outside of Europe, to introduce Santos Beach, Mossel Bay R222.620 million to capital assets. the Blue Flag programme, in November 2001. Locally, the initiative Silwerstroomstrand Beach, Cape Town The department relies on South African Tourism to market has grown from just three beaches in the first year to 41 beaches in Strandfontein Beach, Cape Town South Africa and transfers 52.8% of the total budget for this 2015/16. Wilderness Beach, near George At the launch of the 2016/17 Blue Flag season, starting 1 Novem- Witsand Beach, mouth of the Breede River purpose. South African Tourism received an additional R20 ber it was announced that 45 South African beaches have been The Dunes Beach, near Plettenberg Bay million in 2017/18 for the South African Convention Bureau awarded Blue Flag status this year, along with five marinas and eight to grow tourism from meetings, incentives, conventions and sustainable tourism boats. An additional 22 beaches across the three KwaZulu-Natal provinces have been given Pilot Blue Flag status. Western Cape is Hibberdene Beach, Hibberdene events. leading the pack, followed by KwaZulu-Natal and then the Eastern Lucien Beach, near Margate The NDT’s spending focus over the medium term will be on Cape. Marina/San Lameer Beach, near Southbroom creating employment opportunities through the implementation Beaches with Blue Flag status for 2016/17 are as follows: Ramsgate, Beach, Ramsgate Southport Beach, near Port Shepstone of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and the Western Cape Trafalgar Beach, near Southbroom Blue Flag programme. Bikini Beach, Gordon’s Bay Umzumbe (Pumula) Beach, near Hibberdene Expenditure is to grow significantly over the MTEF period by Brenton-on-Sea Beach, near Knysna Ushaka Beach, Durban Buffalo Bay Beach, near Knysna Westbrook Beach, Durban a total average of 63,1% and 21,9%, respectively. The reason Camps Bay Beach, Cape Town for this is threefold: the implementation of the EPWP, the TIP Clifton 4th Beach, Cape Town Eastern Cape and the transfer payment to South African Tourism (SAT). De Bakke Beach, Mossel Bay Dolphin Beach, Jeffrey’s Bay Fish Hoek Beach, Cape Town Hamburg Beach,