Date: 30/10/2009
Source: The Department of Tourism
Title: SA: Van Schalkwyk: Speech by the Minister of Tourism, at the 8th Annual Tourism Conference, Johannesburg

Theme: Building a Service Excellence and an Inclusive Tourism Culture and
Partnerships in Tourism for 2010 and Beyond

Introduction
A new Department and a continued focus on economic growth

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the 8th Annual National Tourism
Conference. I am particularly proud, as this year it is held under the
auspices of the brand-new National Department of Tourism,which was created
following the national elections in April this year.

The formation of this stand-alone Department is testament to our governments
bold vision for the growth and development of the tourism sector, and
tourisms fast-growing contribution to economic growth, human development,
and the creation of decent jobs.

Though not immune to the global economic downturn,tourism has so far
resisted the financial crisis better than many other sectors, such as
construction, real estate and car manufacturing. South Africa recorded 9.5
million arrivals in 2008, which constitutes anincrease of 5.5%compared to
2007.

This growth was significantly better than the global average of 2%. Foreign
direct spend grew by 23.4% from R60.1 billion in 2007, to R74.2 billion in
2008. Total revenue generated by tourism in 2008 also showed an excellent
growth rate of 23.5%.

But we also know that the tourism industry is an integral part of the global
economy. It therefore follows that the tourism industry in South Africa has
also been exposed to the global volatility. The numbers for this year are
therefore bound also to reflect the international trends that put arrivals,
occupancy and spend under pressure.

As a global industry, it is becoming increasingly important that we apply
our minds to a coordinated response- as public and private sectors, and
within and between countries and regions. As a global community - government
and industry - we must work together in order to build greater resilience,
and explore new frontiers to grow and develop the sector.

South Africas candidacy as UNWTO Executive Council Member
I am very proud to announce that, at the 18th General Assembly of the United
Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) held in Kazakhstan earlier this
month, South Africa was elected to the Executive Council of the UNWTO as an
African representative.

Our election follows an absence of ten years from the Executive Council.
During this four-year term, South Africa will use its position to advance
Africas development agenda and the objectives of the New Partnership for
Africas Development (NEPAD).We will also actively work towards the
realisation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), because we, as an
African country, regardtourism as pivotal to unlocking greater economic
growth, infrastructure development, trade promotion and job creation on our
continent.

Hosting the first meeting of G20 tourism ministers
In Kazakhstan, the ministerial representatives from the G20 countries also
met to discuss tourisms contribution to the economic stimuli required for
the recovery of the global economy. It was agreed that tourism should be
further mainstreamed in global economic decision making.

Against this background, South Africas offer to lead and host a first
meeting of the G20 tourism ministers was welcomed. I can today announce that
this meeting will take place from 22 to 24 February 2010 in Gauteng under
the theme Travel and tourism: Stimuli for G20 economies.

The international community has undertaken a number of significant steps to
mobilise a global response to the unprecedented challenges brought about by
the current global economic crisis. Indeed, the G20 has played a central
rolein these global efforts, and has convened three high-level meetings to
discuss the scope of strengthening economic cooperation on a range of key
issues affecting the global economy.

Likewise, the UNWTO has called on world leaders to take stock of how tourism
and travel could be positioned as an important catalyst to boost this global
effort. As the new UNWTO Roadmap for Recovery report adopted in Kazakhstan
highlights, there is growing evidence that tourism and travel could make a
valuable contribution to the process of global economic recovery, which will
include amongst others rebuilding consumer confidence, stimulating source
markets and, in the longer term, supporting the transition to a greener
economy.
The new UNWTO Roadmap to Recovery recognises the fact that tourism is one of
the worlds top job creators(providing 75 million direct jobs worldwide) and
that it drives the viability of many small and medium enterprises.

Tourism provides fast entry into the workforce, particularly for youth and
women in urban and rural communities,and it is a lead export sector,
comprising 30% of the worlds export services, and up to 45% of the total
service exports of developing countries. I am very pleased that South Africa
will be able to play a meaningful role in the process to discuss and develop
global strategies to meet the challenges of the global economic downturn,
and to seize the opportunities of the global economic recovery.

UNWTO/SA International Summit
Let me turn to the World Cup. We know that we, as a developing country,
cannot afford to have underutilised infrastructure after the World Cup, and
we understand that we must plan ahead to make sure the huge infrastructure
and skills investments do not go to waste.

It is with this in mind that I can today also announce that our Department
will, in cooperation with the Department of Sport, host a UNWTO/South Africa
Summit on Tourism, Sport and Mega-events from 24 to 26 February in Sandton.
The summit will be held parallel to the annual Meetings Africa, Africas top
business tourism exhibition hosted annually by SA Tourism. Our international
media partner for the event will be CNN.

The summit will provide a forum to consider the impact of mega-events -
particularly sports, cultural and entertainment events, business tourism,
international conferences and major exhibitions - from a tourism
perspective.

It is highly relevant because of the positioning of such events in the
national development strategies. It is prompted by the growing number of
such events at a global level, and the economic, social and environmental
consequences for host nations. In addition, these events entail massive
multimedia opportunities, which can be used amongst others to brand nations
and promote exports.

We need to learn from this, and use it as a platform to plan for the era
following July next year - for the benefit of the country and Africa.I
believe this summit will help us to do so. It will help us to chart our
future strategy for major event-driven tourism, including sport and business
tourism, in South Africa.

Service excellence and accessibility
Finally, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to reflect on the importance of
service excellence in our industry, and the accessibility of our tourism
products to ensure sustainable growth.We understand that developing
recognised tourism icons alone will not be enough to achieve our long-term
growth targets. I believe we must pay more attention to service excellence
in particular, as ultimately, it is visitors experience in our country that
will make them want to return or not.

It is for this reason that our Department has partnered with the Tourism
Business Council of South Africa to implement a service excellence
initiative. A presentation on the progress of the initiative will be made
during the latter part of this conference.

In terms of accessibility, our industry should also focus on making all our
products accessible to all visitors, including those with disabilities. The
right to enjoy tourism is an equal right for all. The issue of accessibility
is not only an issue with great social dimensions and consequences. Also
from a financial perspective, individuals with disabilities represent a
large and developing market for the tourist industry.

In Europe alone, it is estimated that more than 40 million consumers with
disabilities could travel and use tourist infrastructure, if these were
accessible. South Africa has all the capabilities to attract and absorb this
large tourist clientele. I hope and trust that this matter will be dealt
with in a serious manner, in order to ensure that all of us in the private
and public sectors work towards accommodating all tourists.

Conclusion
Ladies and gentlemen, next year, South Africa will be hosting the one of the
biggest sporting spectaculars in the world. I know we have all been working
very hardto make it a success, and I also realise that the next few months
will be challenging, but our industry and country will reap innumerable
rewards.

We are also looking forward to making available for public comment our first
ever National Tourism Sector Strategy early next year. The strategy will be
the result of a process of consultation with the industry, amongst others
during our stakeholder engagements during July and August. Never before have
we had such an overarching plan for the entire tourism sector, and I am
confident that the new strategy will be a comprehensive roadmap for our
industrys growth.

I would like to thank each and every stakeholder in this industry for
constructively engaging with us, and I invite you to join us in striving
towards a new era of tourism growth and opportunities.

I know we will achieve our vision if we, as a South African industry,
continue to work together in the spirit of shared learning and towards a
greater goal, namely growing tourism for the benefit of all South Africans.
We are also unlocking exciting international cooperation and leadership
opportunities. I look forward to our continued partnership.

I thank you.