It is hugely encouraging that government has identified tourism as one of the sectors in the economy that has the highest potential for growth and has, officially and formally, recognised tourism for the…
It is hugely encouraging that government has identified tourism as one of the sectors in the economy that has the highest potential for growth and has, officially and formally, recognised tourism for the substantial contribution it makes to socio-economic development; to creating jobs; and to growing the economy for the benefit of all South Africans.
So says Chief Executive Officer of South African Tourism, Mr Moeketsi Mosola. He was responding to the address made by Deputy President, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka at a recent media briefing in parliament.
The Deputy President was speaking specifically about the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa (ASGISA) whose ultimate objective is to halve unemployment and poverty by 2014.
She said tourism had gown rapidly and already accounted for eight percent of GDP. However, it was poised to grow its GDP contribution to 12 percent and had the potential to create at least 400 000 jobs by 2014.
Strong public/private partnerships were already entrenched in the industry and this boded well for consolidated growth driven by constructive collaboration across both sectors.
“South African Tourism is heartened by the fact that cabinet has placed our industry high on its agenda,” Mosola says.
“We welcome this commitment to the industry as we welcome the call for us to increase our marketing efforts to ensure that tourism fulfills its potential as a key and robust component in driving economic growth and social development in South Africa.”
Tourism posted record-breaking statistics during the second quarter of 2005. Total foreign arrivals grew by 6.9% to 1 616 027, making it the fourth successive quarter in which the highest number of arrivals to South Africa have been posted.
Moreover, there was an increase of nearly 20 percent in total foreign direct spend during the same period growing the Rand revenue to R10.3 billion (including capital expenditure) for the quarter. “Tourism eclipsed gold two years ago as a foreign exchange earner for South Africa,” Mosola says.
“Its contribution to GDP, to growth and to development becomes more and more significant. South African Tourism is in the business of putting more roofs over more South African heads and more food on more South African plates. If we can do this, and give the world’s travellers the privilege, the joy and the sheer pleasure of experiencing our amazing destination and people for themselves, we will have done our job. And we will have done it well,” Mosola concluded.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
