Marion Edmunds
Parliament’s portfolio committees on tourism and environmental affairs have had MPs and senators reaching for their bikinis and sunhats. The committees are spending an estimated R300 000 on study tours abroad to Cuba, Jamaica and Bali.
One of Gwen Mahlangu’s first tasks as Peter Mokaba’s replacement as chair of the National Assembly Portfolio Committee on the Environment and Tourism has been to lead a seven-MP delegation to Jamaica and Cuba to examine their tourism industries and environmental policies. The MPs return on Sunday. This trip is costing Parliament R113 697.
Next week, another six MPs from the same committee are to set off for Bali for a conference hosted by the World Tourism Organisation. They will be joined by six senators whose trip will cost about R20 000 each. The National Assembly say their delegation’s trip will cost approximately R70 000.
Senator Stephanus Grove who is leading the Senate delegation said this week he thought the trip would be worthwhile because discussions would provide ideas for the restructuring of South Africa’s tourism industry.