Deputy Minister Fish Mahlalela says efforts to drive transformation in the tourism sector that is aligned to the targets set out in the BBB-EE Tourism Sector Code and the UNWTO Sustainable Development Goals will be in vain, if government fails to facilitate access to business resources, information and opportunities for women entrepreneurs in tourism.
The Deputy Minister was speaking during the Women Explore event in Gqeberha earlier this week under the theme Women’s Day is ‘Women’s Socio-Economic Rights and Empowerment: Building Back Better for Women’s Improved Resilience’, which reaffirms women rights as equal stakeholders in the socio-economic trajectory of our country.
“So far, a number of projects have been implemented to ensure that we protect and rejuvenate the supply, through publishing the Norms and Standards for Safe Operation as well as providing training within the sector.” said the Deputy Minister.
Deputy Minister Mahlalela said that government has been implementing the tourism infrastructure maintenance programme in key tourism assets according to the Deputy Minister, rolling out the sector skills development programme to ensure that relevant skills are available as the sector recovers.
“We provide investment to ensure that as the world re-opens, DestinationSA remains top of our mind in our key markets and beyond through the launch of the Global Advocacy Programme which ensures that consumers, trade partners and the global media remained informed about Destination South Africa as well as the Global Brand Film, inviting everyone to “Live Again”.”
“We will continue to host Meetings Africa under the theme “Advancing the African Agenda Together”, and conduct various campaigns focused on the domestic market to encourage South Africans to enjoy the beauty and heritage our home has to offer.”
Government will continue to work together with all the stakeholders within the value chain, to implement the Tourism Sector Recovery Plan to facilitate amongst others, protection and creation of jobs, as well as greater diversification of the supply side of the tourism market.
Increased quantum and focus on infrastructure investments in the tourism sector are also factors that government and its stakeholders will also be part of such investment.
“This will help build greater confidence in South Africa as a safe destination and an improved South African Brand. It will further cause an increased international arrivals and most importantly turning domestic tourism into an anchor of the tourism sector.
Deputy Minister said that women’s month is a tribute to the multitudes of women who took to the streets on that fateful day in 1956 and to the pioneers of the women’s movement in SouthAfrica dating back to 1913.
“We remember women like Charlotte Maxeke who led the way in encouraging women to participate in the struggle for liberation.” Deputy Minister Mahlalela said.
