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The Department of Tourism has published a Green Paper for Public Comment, which wants to create a specialised police unit to protect tourists.
Tourism substantially impacts the South African economy, with the 2018/19 State of Tourism report recording the total contribution of tourism at R354.9 billion for South Africa’s GDP and a direction to GDP of R130 billion in 2018.
“Despite these achievements, South Africa’s Tourism economy has yet to fully exploit its potential,” the department said.
“The assessment of the Economic Survey of South Africa conducted by Treasury in partnership with an organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development reached a similar conclusion noting that the tourism sector lags behind relative to its potential and resources.”
Negative perceptions around limited crisis management, outdated policy, poor transformation and fears over safety have all been identified as inhibitors to growing tourism.
It added that the fears around safety are scaring off international and domestic tourists, with the risk of service delivery protests creating an unsafe outlook.
According to the Parliamentary Monitoring Group, proposals from the Green Paper include:
- A research-based tourism safety response programme
- A specialised police unit with capacity for focused preventative measures and the swift resolution of incidents involving tourists
- Regulating the short-term rental market
- Addressing immigration and transport-related challenges
- Cutting-edge skills development in keeping with technological advancements, and
- More effective support for small and medium enterprises operating in the sector.
The Green Paper notes that the South African Police Service and the tourism sector have partnered to create a tourism safety strategy.
This includes patrolling tourist hotspots, giving tourists key information, and reporting incidents to law enforcement agencies focused on crucial tourist sites. 200 youths have also been recruited to be trained as monitors.
Several other countries, including Kenya, Egypt, and Ghana, have created specialised tourist police units that support tourists and handle complaints to alleviate fears over safety.
Tough times for the Tourism Department
The new Green Paper comes amidst a difficult time for the Department of Tourism.
At the start of the year, the Department came under severe pressure over a proposed R1 billion sponsorship of English football club Tottenham Hotspur.
Following the appointment of Patricia De Lille as minister, the board decided to no longer pursue the deal, with De Lille citing it as unlawful and invalid.
However, De Lille has also been questioned over a proposed R33 million sponsorship deal with comedian Trevor Noah to create a five-minute promotion video.
Although the minister said that the Tourism Business Council of Southern Africa would foot the Bill, the Chairperson of the Tourism Portfolio Committee, Tandi Mahambehlala, likened it to the Spurs deal and called on the entity not to continue with it.
The Draft Green Paper can be found below:
Read: Cape Town pulls the trigger on body cameras for police officers in South Africa
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