On Wednesday, the Portfolio Committee on Tourism adopted the Tourism Bill with amendments.

This follows a consultative process with the public. The Bill will now be referred to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) before going back to the National Assembly (NA). The Bill will repeal all legislation and regulations dealing with tourism. Currently, there are four different pieces of legislation that deal with tourism.

The Bill also seeks to provide for the development and promotion of sustainable tourism for the benefit of citizens and visitors, ensure continued existence of the South African Tourism Board to effectively market South Africa as a tourist destination (for local and international travellers), to establish the Tourism Grading Council to implement the national grading system for tourism, and to regulate the tourist guide profession and repeal certain laws.

Comments received from the public through submissions and public hearings were thoroughly scrutinised and considered when processing the Bill. Some of the critical issues that were under the spotlight during deliberations were about the Tourism Protector.

The Committee resolved that the Protector must not be given investigative and prosecuting powers as there are adequate agencies that deal with law enforcement. Submissions about the South African Tourism Board proposed that there should be a reflection on the geographical spread of members, but it was eventually agreed that the Board needed to be representative of the of society.

The Committee agreed that the period of registration of tourist guides be three years to ensure harmonisation with other registration requirements such as the first aid certificate.

Issued by Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Tourism

For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:

Yoliswa Landu
Telephone: +27 (0) 21 403 8203
Cell: +27 (0) 73 738 0182
Email: ylandu@parliament.gov.za

Issued by Parliament of South Africa