By: Staff Reporter
Minister of Tourism Lindiwe Sisulu says in order for Africa to recover, the continent needs to unite and work as one.
Sisulu spoke during the African Travel and Tourism Summit, where she indicated that the path to reviving tourism in Africa would not be easy.
“Especially if we do not harness the energy of our oneness, our unity of purpose and our common dream of a destination connected and united. It is a long road ahead, but the interventions outlined here will go a long way to rebuilding the sector,” she said.
Sisulu shared that her department had come up with a recovery plan which she hoped could serve as the blueprint for the continent. She said tourism plays a crucial role in developing and growing an inclusive economy in the country.
“And the fact that it is listed as one of eight interventions in its recovery plan illustrates this point. My department has already drawn up and is implementing its Tourism Sector Recovery Plan, which is in line with the Government’s broader Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan,” she said.
The interventions include:
- Implement norms and standards for safe operations across the value chain to enable safe travel and rebuild traveller confidence;
- Stimulate domestic demand through targeted initiatives and campaigns;
Strengthen the supply-side through resource mobilisation and investment facilitation; - Support for the protection of core tourism infrastructure and assets;
Execute a global marketing programme to reignite international demand;
Tourism regional integration; and
Review the tourism policy to provide enhanced support for sector growth and development
Sisulu said South Africa needs to reset the tourism sector in the continent.
“We hope to make immediate gains through inter-regional and domestic travel to sustain the sector. We are ready to take our fair share of the world tourism organisation estimate that tourism in Africa could more than double to 134 million tourists in 2030 as opposed to 50 million we had in 2010. We are gearing ourselves for that. In our case in South Africa, we regard ourselves as a desirable tourism destination, which accounts for a substantial amount of the country’s revenue,” Sisulu said.
While taking stock and reflecting on the sector before the pandemic, Sisulu said the dream and narrative around Africa’s tourism sector were inspiringly vivid. She said it was a dream of a continent rising – rising and freeing itself from the shackles of stigmatisation of it being unsafe, uncouth and unwelcoming.
“We celebrate the world in one continent from the expansive arid plainlands in the North to the Southern tip of Africa, where two oceans meet, with its diverse fusion of peoples and cultures. Today, we celebrate the rising giant that is Africa. We celebrate her vast natural wonders, ranging from the plains and woodlands of the Serengeti to the arid Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park to the beach elephants of the greater St Lucia and the Pyramids of Giza,” she said.
Sisulu said the summit enjoys the participation of the African community delegates who aim to understand how tourism has shifted in the African continent and identifying new opportunities.
Therefore, it was a catalyst for engagement on the current state of tourism on the African continent, sharing ideas on collective recovery initiatives and solutions, and exploring global tourism survival trends and challenges facing the global tourism industry.
“This summit unpacks the four main themes of Best Practice for Brand Africa, Sectoral Transformation, Leisure and Business Opportunities and Strengthening and Enabling Economic Capabilities. It also affords Africa’s tourism leaders a platform to create solutions for Africa and contribute to global solutions for the industry to awaken a new beginning for Africa,” Sisulu said.
