BackgroundThe Tourism Support Programme (TSP) launched in 2008/09, is one of the 11 incentive programme administered by the Department of Trade and Industry and set to run for a 6 year period until 2014/15. At the same time, in 2009 the National Department of Tourism was established as a standalone Ministry responsible for the policy and strategy development for the sector. As part of the process to develop policies and strategies that will bring about a better coordinated tourism development programme, instruments key to this development residing outside the department were reviewed.
The Tourism Support Programme was identified as one such programme operating outside the department, but influencing the development of tourism through the reimbursable cash grant that aimed to support the development of tourism enterprises and stimulate job creation, black economic empowerment and increase the geographic spread of tourism investment.
Transfer of the TSP to the National Department of TourismIn 2011 the National Tourism Sector Strategy was launched. With the strategy in place Cabinet took a decision in early 2012 to transfer the Tourism Support Programme from the Department of Trade and Industry to the National Department of Tourism to achieve better alignment of the programme and national tourism strategy. This decision was also captured in the Industrial Policy Action Plan of 2011/12 – 2013/14 indicating that the transfer will take place during the 2011/12 financial year but the programme will remain in the Department of Trade and Industry business plan during this transition and once this process is concluded the item will reflect in the NDT business plan.
In giving effect to this decision the Department of Trade and Industry as the transferring department issued a statement announcing the last day for new applications as the 28 September 2012 with the programme transferred to the National Department of Tourism from the 1st October 2012. This meant that all applications received and/or processed prior to 1 October 2012 will remain the responsibility of the Department of Trade and Industry to administer, finalise and disburse any payment on claims submitted by current clients.
On the 1st of October 2012 the process to transfer the programme to NDT commenced. As a result the TSP was closed and no new applications are accepted under the existing programme to allow for the alignment process and a review to take place which will inform the development of a new programme. The Department of Trade and Industry continues to administer the programme for applications received by the 28th September and sufficient funding has been put aside for this purpose. In 2013/14 the National Department of Tourism will establish a component to develop and manage the new incentive programme with new criteria and NTSS aligned objectives. This will then allow for the re-launch of the programme in early to mid-2014 where the focus will be on awareness and acceptance of new applications.
Feedback/CommentAs we are currently reviewing and aligning the TSP to the Tourism Sector Strategy, we welcome your inputs and comments that will enhance the process by providing innovation that will make the programme work for our stakeholders. To give inputs please
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