We were in the tourism Indaba media centre when a hack turned to a veteran journalist from East London’s Daily Dispatch and asked: “So what’s East London’s major tourism offering?”
“Sun, sand and adventure,” was the reply, followed by a list of things to do. “You really should come and have a look,” the East London journalist insisted.
“Sounds a bit like what Limpopo is doing,” said the first, “with 4×4 routes and the general adventure angle it seems to be promoting.”
“We’ve been doing this for ages,” said the East Londoner, before escaping the banter that was descending into a playground spat.
This conversation proves it. Even at an international event like the tourism Indaba, provincialism is rife.
Having attended seven of these hectic affairs, I cannot help but notice the increasing pride provinces have in their product. The lesson we learn time and again is that province seems to come before country.
It was at the World Economic Forum summit in Durban in 2000, under the then tourism minister Mohammed Valli Moosa, that the government first seemed to take on board the notion that tourism could be a major driver in reducing unemployment. In retrospect South Africa was a bit slow in coming to this conclusion, given that international tourism had overtaken the oil industry in size in the early Nineties. But take it on board it has, and to great effect.
There is an increasing number of exhibitors at Indaba every year, considerable amounts of cash pumped into the industry by the government, burgeoning public-private partnerships and, most importantly, a consistently growing number of visitors to this country.
Accounting for 10% of global domestic product, tourism is also a huge industry in South Africa; it generates about R54-billion annually. At 7% of the country’s gross domestic product, tourism contributes more to the local economy than gold mining.
Although the number of visitors to the country increased by only 1% over the past year, it followed on from strong growth in 2003. At the opening of the Indaba, Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk — fast seemingly becoming the darling of tourism authorities — challenged the industry to break through the seven–million-visitor mark this year. Last year’s figure is 6,7 million.
On the local front there has been marked growth in profile of a number of organisations; most significantly in the Tourism Grading Council, which had product owners queuing to be evaluated.
Then there was the independent, non-profit Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa initiative. This organisation promotes sustainable and equitable tourism development in the country.
The importance of a black economic empowerment (BEE) charter for the industry received much coverage, particularly around the “scorecard”.
Although the concept of sharing seems out of kilter in today’s bottom-line dominated world, the importance of BEE to the continued success of the industry cannot be over-emphasised.
The Indaba also brings with it an increased interest in travel beyond our borders. Botswana never fails to impress while Namibia continues to lap up its newfound popularity, something that seems to be growing with the passing years.
Mozambique’s operators remain frustrated by alleged government inaction on infrastructural development, while the quality, no-frills safari destination of Zambia continues to plug away. Meanwhile, representatives from Angola have spent the Indaba sitting quietly in their stand, waiting for interest.
And, as always, the kiosk belonging to the Seychelles has been packed with impeccably dressed individuals steeped in self-importance. In general there is much to celebrate — indeed, each year the show only gets better.