New President urges South Africans to focus on tourism in key speech

Source: Tourism Update, 16/02/2018

Recently sworn in President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa,
highlighted the importance of tourism and its potential for growth in
his maiden State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Friday (Feb 16).
Growing the tourism sector forms part of the President’s ten-point
plan to revive the country’s economy.
He believes that tourism can provide the country with “incredible
opportunities”, as the sector currently sustains 700 000 direct jobs
and is performing better than most growth sectors.
“This year, we will enhance support for destination marketing in key
tourism markets and take further measures to reduce regulatory
barriers and develop emerging tourism businesses,” said Ramaphosa.
South African Tourism (SAT) CEO, Sisa Ntshona, commented: “We’re very
excited that tourism is being placed front and centre in the national
conversations and we’re especially excited that Ramaphosa highlighted
this very fact at SONA 2018.”
Vivian McCarthy, Director at Acacia Africa, believes Ramaphosa will
strengthen the tourism industry, and will invest more into the
sector, increasing tourist arrivals.
Talking about the rand and current political instability during SONA,
the President said: “Commodity prices have improved, the stock market
has risen, the rand has strengthened and there are early indications
that investor confidence is on the rise…We have taken decisive
measures to address concerns about political instability and are
committed to ensure policy certainty and consistency.”
South Africa is home to some world-renowned parks and reserves,
commented McCarthy: “Saying this, South Africa must remember that the
travelling public have a choice of where to spend their hard-earned
pounds, and so it is imperative that SA’s pricing remains
competitive.”
“Under the leadership of Ramaphosa, the country should grow, and this
will offset the past, making people want to visit our shores. SA has
so much to offer and the change in this long-awaited leadership must
prove the beauty and respect we truly have in our country, its people
and, in my case, our tourism offering,” said Collin Thaver, Managing
Director of Southern Africa 360.
The President called on South Africans to open their homes and their
hearts to the world.
“There is a greater sense of optimism among our people. Our people
are hopeful about the future,” said the President.
Other points included small business development, the investment
conference and infrastructure investment, focusing on the improvement
and implementation of new projects for water infrastructure, road
maintenance and health facilities