The tourism sector is one of the largest job creators in South Africa. It is the industry that facilitates the hiring of hundreds of thousands of chiefs, cooks, waiters, cleaners, barmen, tour guides, taxi cabs, as well as provides various jobs around beaches, parks, sports facilities and other places of interest. It is no wonder that it created 40 000 new jobs between 2012 and 2016.

And so, the Democratic Alliance (DA) is notes carefully the motives of the Minister of Tourism when she proposes the “Kill Airbnb” Bill, in the form of the Draft Tourism Amendment Bill. Why Honourable Minister, why are you after a company which delivers innovation, that levels the playing field, that creates jobs and new wealth for the small players? Who are you working for? It is not for the small guesthouse owner, the cook at the bed and breakfast, it is not for the cleaner at the small boutique hotel.

Have you ever personally used Airbnb, Minister? And seen these people who have new jobs? Honourable Minister, in your hunger to kill Airbnb, we will stand up against you and defend the hundreds of thousands of jobs you also plan to destroy in the process.

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