GAUTENG CABINET BACKS DRAFT POLICY ON TOURISM

Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government

MEDIA STATEMENT

The Gauteng Cabinet today (13 March 1996) threw its weight behind a draft policy document on tourism in the Province.

The draft policy document, which emanates from the Department of Economic Affairs and Finance, aims to create a dynamic process to address the present and future challenges facing the tourism industry in the province.

Some of the problems facing the industry in the Province are:

• The historical spatial/physical development pattern has resulted in the establishment of areas of disparity and imbalance in terms of quality and quantity of services and infrastructure;
• Conservation areas in Gauteng are in the decline and there is limited legal protection from urban sprawl:
• Incentives to attract potential investors for tourism development are inadequate, and
• Inefficient and ineffective marketing and promotional strategies due to the inability of current institutions to either develop or incorporate emerging markets into mainstream tourism.

It further proposes to bring about change within the context of a dedication to social commitment, economic empowerment, environmental responsibility and widening of access to opportunities and partnerships.

Once this draft policy document has been ratified, the next process - that of setting up a provincial tourism agency - will begin.

13 March 1996

Issued by the Communications Directorate, Office of the Premier