The Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, today welcomed the deployment of 40 tourism monitors for Table Mountain National Park. The Tourism Monitors Programme is an initiative by the Department of Tourism to supplement safety and security measures by the South African Police Service, to enhance tourism safety.
These measures are spearheaded by the Tourism Safety Forum which comprises of all three spheres of government, the South African Police Service, the National Prosecuting Authority and the private sector such as the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) and the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA) as well as local and provincial tourism authorities and agencies. To welcome this cohort and to underpin partnership and collaboration, the Minister was joined by Mr Michael Tollman who is the Chairman of the Tourism Safety Forum as well as Megan Taplin, Park Manager for Table Mountain National Park.
The Department has set R174.5million from this year’s budget to deploy around 2 300 Tourism Monitors at key tourist attractions. This gives expression through our multi-agency collaborative efforts to ensure the safety of our visitors and to safeguard the reputation of our destination.
The 2 305 Tourism Monitors will be deployed as follows:
Province/Entity | Number of Tourism Monitors |
Eastern Cape | 150 |
Free State | 150 |
Western Cape | 250 |
Gauteng | 100 |
Limpopo | 100 |
KwaZulu Natal | 200 |
Mpumalanga | 220 |
North West | 100 |
Northern Cape | 70 |
iSimangaliso Wetland Park | 200 |
Ezemvelo Nature Reserve | 150 |
SANBI Gardens | 130 |
ACSA Airports | 135 |
SANParks | 350 |
Total | 2 305 |
Out of the 350 monitors deployed to Sanparks, 70 was allocated to Table Mountain National Park in the Western Cape of which 40 are being deployed today. The balance will be deployed in the new year. Our national parks are key tourism attractions and remain top-of-list for our key source markets.
The Tourism Monitors will be deployed at strategic ports of entry, national parks and other attractions across the country to assist with tourism and safety related information and matters. The safety of all tourists remains paramount and we are determined to do all we can to ensure that all tourists have a safe and memorable experience in South Africa.
Ends/
For Media Enquiries:
Zara Nicholson
Media Liaison Officer
Cell: +27 (0) 79 416 5996
Email: znicholson@tourism.gov.za