Parliament, Wednesday, 2 August 2017 – The Portfolio Committee on Tourism yesterday received presentations from local municipalities within Eden District Municipality, the local tourism organisations, tourism businesses and other stakeholders in the industry.
One of the key objectives of oversight is to view first-hand government funded projects, programmes and maintenance of tourist attractions. The Committee looks at the efforts of municipalities to ensure tourism drives growth and creates employment. National events, such as the Klein Karoo National Arts Festival, attract large numbers of people to the town and in turn generate an income for the municipality and locals alike.
The Committee is concerned about the general state of tourism in the area. Not long ago Oudsthoorn Municipality was under administration, which affected the constitutional mandate of development and promotion of local tourism. This also affected running of the Cango Caves, a World Heritage Site in the area.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Ms Beatrice Ngcobo was pleased that the management of Cango Caves has implemented a turnaround strategy enabling it to operate and to be self-sustainable. This site receives over 250 000 visitors annually and collects revenue of R17 million, which the municipality receives.
Management and staff here are committed to ensuring that visitors receive a truly South African experience. This is a best practice that can be shared with other tourist sites across the country. The Chairperson is, however, concerned about the high average age of the Cango Caves tour guides, as this may affect continuity.
This being a precursor to the Tourism Month, the Chairperson encourages domestic travelling within the country and further appeals to local tourist organisations to provide discounts to local people to enjoy and appreciate the beautiful country we live in. Tourism should not be beyond the reach of ordinary South Africans.
ISSUED BY PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM, MS B NGCOBO.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:
Name: Sureshinee Govender
Parliamentary Communication Services
Tel: 021 4032289
Cell: 0817041109
E-mail: sugovender@parliament.gov.za
Arrange a tour