Cape Town – Government’s response to the flare up of xenophobic attacks in South Africa ensured the tourism sector had not been affected, said Minister of Tourism Derek Hanekom on Thursday.
“I recently met with the president of the World Travel and Tourism Council who said we are sending out the right messages,” said Hanekom.
Hanekom was briefing media in Cape Town ahead of his department’s Budget Vote later on Thursday and discussed the implications of xenophobia on the sector, the effects of loadshedding, and concerns regarding new visa regulations.
“If we sustain our efforts and if we combat any xenophobia that may rear its head, we will get through this,” said Hanekom.
He added that at the recent Tourism Indaba, he engaged with over 20 of his African counterparts: “We will be visiting each of these African states to strengthen our relations.”
Accompanying Hanekom was Deputy Minister of Tourism Tokozile Xasa who added to Hanekom’s answer on the effects of xenophobia, saying the department and government would be running activities throughout Africa Month to make evident South Africa’s position on the continent.
“We are not xenophobic and we will show that we are Africa and that our country is welcoming to all nations of the world,” said Xasa.
Tackling the question of the effects of loadshedding on the sector, both Xasa and Hanekom said it was too early for the department to have any official measurements but that negative effects were expected.
“It is a no-brainer that loadshedding will have a significant effect on the tourism industry. For example, when loadshedding happens it is usually when a restaurant owner is opening shop and ready to cook his first meal,” said Hanekom.
Hanekom said that countering the effects of loadshedding and the strain on the the electricity supply in general was part of the motivation for retrofitting state-owned tourism sites with renewable energy sources such as the department’s pilot project of moving Robben Island from diesel energy dependent to solar powered.
Further details on retrofitting and the pilot project, which would conclude by the end of the year, would be provided in Hanekom’s Budget Vote later on Thursday.
Hanekom said the introduction of new visa regulations was a concern for the Department, based on the last six months’ worth of tourism statistics.
“We have seen that over the last six months, there have been negative effects on tourism from countries that require visas to South Africa,” he said.
Hanekom said that the discussion about the impact of the new regulations was happening at an inter-department level.
“It is a concern and it is not something we want to sweep under the carpet.”
ANA