Tourism department blasted for unclear regulations and relief fund failures

Members of the Democratic Alliance (DA) have woken up on Sunday morning with a few bones to pick with those in charge of South Africa’s tourism industry, saying that the latest regulations that pertain to Advanced Level 3 in the sector amount to “hieroglyphics”. 

The DA’s shadow minister for Tourism, Manny de Freitas, said on Sunday 5 July that the department of tourism has contradicted itself several times since announcing that guest houses, hotels and conference centres may accept guests for intra-provincial leisure purposes. 

Tourism minister must clarify rules  

De Freitas said that the opposition party has spent much of the last week trying to figure out exactly what citizens can and cannot do regarding tourism in Level 3. 

“The Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, needs to decipher the hieroglyphics of the confusing “Alert Advanced Level 3” tourism regulations that she announced last week.”

“She stated that leisure accommodation will not be permitted. This contradicts the regulations which state that licensed and accredited accommodation establishments are allowed to operate for intra-provincial travel (that is, within a province) for business as well as leisure purposes.”

“The regulations are also unclear with regards to conference facilities as, although conferences may take place, it does not explicitly say that conference accommodation may be used for leisure purposes as well.”

He went on to say that if the laws are not clarified, that businesses will by default act in terms of the guidelines as understood by the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA), which said last week that businesses CAN operate for intra-provincial leisure bookings. 

Freelance tour guides missing out on relief payments.

Another gripe the DA has with the Department of Tourism is over their alleged failure to make payments towards a relief fund for freelance tour guides. 

DA Western Cape spokesperson for Finance, Economic Development, and Tourism, Deidré Baartman, said that with R3 billion lost in the provincial sector since the start of the lockdown, and “20% of tourism businesses set to close”, this relief should urgently become available. 

“At the start of June, Minister Kubayi-Ngubane announced a R1 500 per month relief fund. The fund is for freelance tour guides who are registered with their relevant provincial authorities, and would offer much-needed relief for three months.” 

“The Western Cape Registrar has successfully completed all necessary information and updating of the registered tour guide database for the province. It has been submitted to the national Department of Tourism, but no pay-outs have taken place.”

She added that the 12 000 registered freelance tour guides in the Western Cape alone need the relief to continue being able to put food on the table. 

“These individuals represent families, single parents, and communities,” she said.  

“Their livelihoods have been all but decimated due to the economic impact of COVID-19. We cannot afford to see more suffer without the safety net that should be provided from national departments.”