CAPE TOWN, S. Africa, Aug 29 (NNN-BUANEWS) – South Africa’s Parliament, urged the government to further explore key international markets, especially China, India and Nigeria.
The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) should find ways of enhancing its workforce, in key international markets, which have been identified as key growth areas for tourism for South Africa, Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, said.
The committee made the appeal as it conducted a four-day oversight visit programme, at the DHA’s Head Office in Pretoria.
The committee heard that the DHA has only four officials in China, four in India and only three in Nigeria, committee chairperson, Mosa Chabane, said.
This low human resource base, impacts negatively on the ability of the DHA to process visa applications for applicants in those countries, with estimated high number of people wishing to visit South Africa.
Tourism has been identified as a key pillar in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s stimulus package, intended to jump-start the country’s economy.
Last Friday, the government launched the Tourism Month, to give impetus to the industry, in times of poor economic performance.
Tourism Month is celebrated in the same month that the UN World Tourism Organisation celebrates World Tourism Day, which falls on September 27, each year.
South Africa has the largest tourism economy in Africa, having indirectly contributed 1.5 million jobs (9.2 percent of South Africa’s employment) and 425.8 billion rand (about 28 billion U.S. dollars) in 2018, according to a World Travel & Tourism Council report.
The report also indicated that the sector accounts for 8.6 percent of the country’s GDP.
The government is trying to meet the target of creating 21 million jobs through tourism.
To achieve this target, the Tourism Department will continue to work closely with the DHA on visa facilitation, to increase access to the country by tourists, Tourism Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, said.– NNN-BUANEWS