Issued by: Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
10 February 1998
1997 has been an extremely eventful year for my Ministry and Department. We have reached new historical milestones in the areas of Tourism, Environmental Management and Sea Fisheries. One of the greatest gains we have made is to initiate a change in the mindset of those within development and conservation circles and amongst the public at large, towards a sustainable vision of development and managing our natural resources.
One of our greatest challenges this year is to develop a management framework to implement a range of new policies. New policies, new visions and new commitments have created a whole array of new demands which has created the urgent need for the transformation and restructuring of my department.
to facilitate this restructuring, my department is conducting an intensive institutional and legal audit and review, to fully understand how certain functions are fragmented across different departments and different levels of government. These transformatory processes are critical to my department becoming the champion of the environment and to implementing new policies pertaining to tourism and sea fisheries.
A. TOURISM:
1. INCREASE IN TOURISM CONTRIBUTION TO THE GDP
Tourism statistics show that the tourism sector has been in an expansion phase for the past nine years, with an increase in international arrivals of 16% over the past three years. This represents an annual average increase of 11% in arrivals from the African continent and a phenomenal 29% per annum from our lucrative overseas markets. These trends demonstrate that tourism is a sustainable, high growth sector in the South African economy.
2. MEASURING THE IMPACT OF TOURISM ON THE ECONOMY
It is presently difficult to assess the exact contribution of tourism to the GDP, or to precisely assess the economic potential of tourism in the South African economy. My department has therefore commissioned the World Travel and Tourism Council (WT&TC) to construct a simulated satellite account for tourism in order to measure and track the contribution of the sector to the economy.
Tourism is not reflected as a separate sector within the national accounts, but is interwoven in other sectors such as transportation, retailing, services, etc. Presently the tourism industry has to work with broad estimates of tourism's performance within the economy. The study will establish a scientific performance measurement base which will allow my department to closely track the performance of the industry for the first time.
3. "TOURISM IN GEAR": TOURISM DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR
THE PERIOD 1998 - 2000
On 3 December 1997, the Cabinet approved "Tourism in Gear", the action programme adopted by my Ministry to implement tourism development for the period 1998 to 2000. "Tourism in Gear", a national strategy to implement the Tourism White Paper, was drawn up after broad consultation with other Ministries, provincial partners, the business sector and various other interest groups. Its underlying premise is that tourism should be government led, private sector driven and community-based.
Our vision, as contained in the programme, is that a globally competitive SA tourism industry will become a lead economic sector within the national economic strategy and a major force in the growth and reconstruction efforts of the government. To achieve this vision the overall goal has been set to increase the contribution of the tourism sector from 4,5% to 8% of the GDP by the year 2000.
Other specific growth targets are included in your information package.
4. TRANSFORMATION AND RESTRUCTURING OF SATOUR
One of the core strategies adopted by my Ministry to achieve our tourism growth targets, is to adopt a fresh, strategic and professional approach to the promotion and marketing of South Africa, with a focus on growing, high yield international markets, as well as the growing, emerging domestic market.
To this end I appointed a new Satour Board in April last year. My directive to the Board was to urgently transform and restructure the floundering Satour, with a view to improving its professionalism, effectiveness and efficiency in marketing our country internationally, so as to fulfil the role of tourism as a potential lead economic sector.
The new Board has frankly performed miracles within six months, after embarking on an intensive consultative transformation process. They have defined a new vision, strategy and structure for Satour and formulated an expenditure framework for the next three years.
5. EMPOWERING PREVIOUSLY MARGINALISED ENTREPRENEURS
In an effort to broaden the base of the industry by identifying and assisting previously marginalised entrepreneurs, my department had begun compiling an extensive database of all potential community-based tourism products and services. My department will assist these entrepreneurs by developing an advisory programme and by investigating finance mechanisms to get these initiatives off the ground and operational.
6. LAUNCH OF THE INTERNATIONAL TOURISM MARKETING
ASSISTANCE SCHEME (ITMAS)
I have recently announced that government has allocated R10 million to establish the international Tourism Marketing Scheme during the 1998/99 financial year. The scheme, which will be administered by my department, is aimed at assisting tourism entrepreneurs to market their products internationally, with a specific emphasis on the emerging entrepreneur who intends entering the international market.
The scheme is similar to the EMIAS for industrial enterprises, which has been operational for many years and which excludes assistance to tourism enterprises. For the first time tourism businesses will receive similar assistance to industrial exporters. My department is currently finalising the application and administrative procedures for the scheme and applications will be invited towards the end of February 1998.
7. TOURISM TRAINING PROGRAMMES
My department is also pursuing the development of a Tourism Training Academy and Front-line Staff Training Programmes at all levels in the industry, to improve the standards of service and increase the professionalism of South African tourism. We have received offers of assistance from countries abroad in these programmes and while we can imbibe much from existing training courses, our aim is to package our training courses to reflect our distinct and unique Southern African character.
8. INVESTIGATION OF TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS
AND REQUIREMENTS
My department has commissioned KPMG consultants to conduct an audit of infrastructure in support of tourism development. International experience has shown that the basic infrastructure of fast-growing visitor pressures, unless effectively planned. Kenya is an example in this regard,
The intention of the study is to identify:
1. pressure points, i.e. areas where infrastructure already struggles to cope with tourism numbers and infrastructure requirements within such areas.
2. potential growth points, i.e. areas with tourism potential, but of which tourism growth and expansion are hampered by the lack of infrastructure.
My department is co-ordinating a team of specialists nominated by provincial tourism authorities, related to government departments, parastatals and the business sector to oversee and guide the study.
The results, which are expected towards October 1998, will be used to inform government programmes and policies in order to focus these on the provision of tourism-related infrastructure.
9. SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES
The development of tourism strategy and policy implementation is dependent on close inter-ministerial and inter-departmental working relationships, with various other departments playing an active role in tourism development. My department has invested considerable effort in establishing such working groups with other departments. The development of tourism anchor projects in specific Spatial Development Initiatives (SDI), such as the Transfrontier Maputo Corridor, is one such area of interdepartmental work.
10. INTEGRATING ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLANNING IN SDI PLANNING: NATIONAL FRAMEWORK
My department has been tasked by the Provincial MECs to develop a coherent environmental management approach to all SDI's, to ensure that crucial infrastructure development is planned and carried out in a sustainable manner. A working group was established with representatives of all provincial Environmental Departments and relevant national officials to carry out this task.
After discussions with a variety of role-players in the environmental management field, this working group has developed a national framework for environmental management which will be discussed at the next Cabinet Investment Cluster meeting and drafted into SDI planning.
11. GOVERNMENT PLAN TO PROTECT ST. LUCIA FROM STRIP-MINING AND SPEAR-HEAD THE DECLARATION AS A WORLD HERITAGE SITE
Last year there were suggestions in the media and elsewhere that government may be reconsidering the option of mining for St. Lucia in northern KwaZulu Natal. It was suggested that mining should be reconsidered as a form of development for the St. Lucia area.
All these rumours were finally laid to rest with my announcement that government - in close co-operation with our colleagues at the provincial and local levels of government - is putting the finishing touches to a comprehensive economic and social plan, that will place the natural beauty of St. lucia at the centre of a wider development programme known as the Lubombo SDI.
This is a concerted programme by the governments of Swaziland, Mozambique and South Africa to convert contiguous areas of their countries into zones of sustainable economic growth and job-creation. The plan, based on tourism, not mining, will be sensitive to our people's desire to sustain this natural system for future generations.
More information on the development plan is included in the information package.
12. WORLD HERITAGE STATUS - SA AIMS FOR THE YEAR 2000
By the year 2000 some of South Africa's most important natural and cultural heritage sites may be listed on the world Heritage List, a roll of honour which names some 500 sites around the world which are considered to be of outstanding universal value - and are offered protection by the World Heritage Convention.
Our country ratified the World Heritage Convention in May 1997 and became one of 152 member states in October 1997. My department is currently working on the submission of a list of potential SA World Heritage Sites to the heritage committee by mid year. This "Tentative List" will comprise approximately 10 sites of cultural or natural importance.
My department has undertaken an extensive consultative process in recent months. A SA World Heritage Committee was established with representatives from various national and provincial government departments and statutory bodies to consider lists of potential sites submitted by each province. This committee will meet on 3 to 4 March 1998 to decide on a Tentative List and to select a few sites on the list as its nominations for 1998. These selected sites together with the entire Tentative List will be submitted to the World Heritage Centre by the middle of this year. As it takes approximately two years for the committee to evaluate these sites, we can look forward to having the first South African sites inscribed on the World Heritage List by December 1999.
B. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT:
1. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT WHITE PAPER
The White Paper on Environmental Management, finalised by my department during 1997, is the single most important environmental statement in the history of our country. The policy, developed through the public participation process known as the Consultative National Environmental Policy Process (CONNEPP), provides an overarching national framework to give effect to the environmental rights in our new Constitution. The policy is applicable to all government institutions and activities that have an environmental impact.
The role of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism is transformed from a passive, facilitating role into an activist lead agent for the environment.
Undergirding this policy is the fundamental recognition that sustainable development must be the accepted approach to the management and utilisation of resources in South Africa. It will be the responsibility of my department to ensure that environmental sustainability is entrenched in policy and practice.
2. BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY WHITE PAPER
South Africa signed the 1992 United Nations Convention on Biodiversity, in response to the global crisis of a rapidly contracting biological diversity. South Africa has the third largest biodiversity in the world and our species of flora and fauna are an attraction to many who visit our shores. In addition to bringing colour to our lives, they enable us to meet the demands for food and energy. In addition to bringing colour to our lives, they enable us to meet the demands for food and energy, they sustain our water supplies and provide shelter and a host of other needs.
Through a process of public consultation, my department finalised the White Paper on biological Diversity during 1997. Many rural communities in particular and the South African public in general, are dependent on living natural resources for food, building material and energy. That dependence has led to the depletion of such resources over large areas of the country. One of the most important actions to be undertaken by my department during this year, will be popularise the White Paper on Biodiversity and conduct an extensive awareness campaign to embed the principles of conservation and the sustainable use of our biodiversity in the minds of our people.
3. INTEGRATED POLLUTION CONTROL & WASTE MANAGEMENT
The Integrated Pollution Control and Waster Management (IPC&WM) Policy process underwent an extensive public participation process and was completed by November last year. A discussion document was used as the basis for discussion and debate by stakeholders in all nine provinces. The policy was then drafted from the comments received.
Some minor issues around the institutional arrangements still need to be finalised before the draft policy is submitted to Parliament. It is expected that the Draft White Paper on Integrated Pollution Control and Waste Management for South Africa will be tabled in Parliament within the first half of this year.
4. COASTAL MANAGEMENT POLICY PROGRAMME
My Ministry has initiated a Coastal Management Policy Programme to ensure the South African coastline is managed in an efficient, equitable and effective manner. In September last year, I announced the programme and urged the public to contribute to the development of this policy. The policy will be required to address community needs, protect our beautiful and sensitive coastal ecosystems and safeguard our natural heritage.
The DEA&T has appointed a Policy Committee to drive the policy development process. Regional and national visions are on track to be completed by this month. The actual policy should be completed by May 1999.
5. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REGULATIONS
On 5 September 1997, I promulgated the long-awaited regulations for Environmental Impact Assessments in terms of the Environment Conservation Act. The regulations, which are being phased in until April 1998, are an important step in ensuring the compliance with our new policy framework of sustainable development. This is another first in the history of our country.
My Ministry believes that initiatives such as the Environmental Management Policy and the new Environmental Impact Assessment regulations will add value to all new initiatives by encouraging greater responsibility on the part of prospective developers, businesses, small and medium sized enterprises.
6. REGULATIONS FOR SENSITIVE COASTAL AREAS
Complimentary to the new Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, I have recently announced the promulgation of new regulations to protect sensitive coastal areas. Regulations have existed to prevent damage to the Outeniqua Sensitive Coastal Area. My department has now extended these regulations to cover other sensitive coastal areas, such as the areas at Pennington and Umtamvuna on the KwaZulu Natal south coast.
My department is working on a computer-based decision-support system to assist the provincial and local levels of government to implement these regulations and to make informed and correct decisions.
7. VOLUNTARY MORATORIUM ON NEW LION HUNTING AND BREEDING FACILITIES.
My Ministry regards the `canned' lion hunting, taking place on certain private farms in South Africa as a matter of national concern. After certain incidents were exposed last year, I instructed by department to initiate a policy formulation process on hunting, in collaboration with the provinces. This policy process will also incorporate lion hunting.
In view of the fact that the policy process will be time consuming, I propose that the provinces impose a voluntary moratorium on the establishment of new lion holding and breeding facilities, until a national policy is in place. This moratorium will not affect existing lion breeding and holding facilities, however a new policy might well affect lion breeding and holding facilities.
C. SEA FISHERIES
1. RESTRUCTURING ON THE FISHING INDUSTRY
During 1997 my department finalised the White Paper on Marine Fisheries Policy and the Marine Living Resources Bill, which once implemented will pave the way for the restructuring of the fishing industry in South Africa.
During the first week of February the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee took an in-depth look at the Marine Living Resources Bill and have communicated their concerns to my Ministry and Department. We are now working towards finalising the document and presenting it to Parliament later this month. I am optimistic that the new marine Living Resources Act will be passed by Parliament before the next recess.
2. INTERIM RELIEF FOR IMPOVERISHED FISHERS
It is only once we have a new Act and a mandate to manage marine resources for the benefit of all South Africans, that we can address the inequalities that exist in the fishing industry and work towards fundamental restructuring.
In the interim my department is at an uncomfortable impasse. We are bound by the present Act which requires us to make use of existing structures for the allocation of fishing rights, whilst at the same time we recognise the urgent need for a more equitable dispensation. It is for this season that I have taken steps towards providing interim relief for impoverished fishers. During February my department will be calling for applications for 1 000 rock lobster and 250 abalone permits which will soon be allocated to subsistence fishers. With these permits subsistence fishers will be entitled to sell their daily catch of four rock lobster or abalone, provided that they sell their catch locally.
A limited number of snoek fishers will also be able to apply for subsistence permits which will enable them to legally sell their daily bag limit of 10 snoek or 10 hottentot. Only those fishers who have a history of at least five years in the fishing industry and who are breadwinners in their families may apply for these permits.
The bag limit for recreational rock lobster and abalone fishers will not be cut, but from this month, recreational fishers who are in possession of a shellfish permit will be restricted to fishing on weekends and public holidays only. A further restriction has been necessitated by the ravaging effect that large scale poaching operations have had on the abalone resource in particular. In future, both recreational and subsistence fishers will only be able to land their catches between 08h00 and 16h00.
2. ENFORCING SA'S EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE - ILLEGAL FISHING OF THE PATAGONIAN TOOTHFISH
During August 1997 the Cabinet approved plans to mount a joint operation to counteract the illegal fishing of the Patagonian Toothfish in South Africa's territorial waters, around the Prince Edward Islands. The joint operation includes the DEA&T, the SA Defence Force, the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Justice.
The illegal fishing of the Patagonian Toothfish is prejudicing our country's economic opportunities and poses a serious threat to the survival of the species in our waters.
I have already entered into discussions with the Minister of Defence on this matter. One major obstacle to the effect policing of our waters is the severe resource constraints presently faced by Defence. South Africa is also negotiating with our friends in the European Union, regarding the behaviour of their trawlers, and is working towards agreement by these countries to respect SA's territorial waters and to submit to monitoring by the SA government. The French have already undertaken to assist SA in counteracting illegal fishing in our waters.
For further information please contact: Cassandra Gabriel, Public Relations Officer - Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism: (021) 457 240/1, 082 573 4168