The Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism has distanced itself from a South African Press Association (Sapa) report on a speech by Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk on Monday.
Sapa’s report was issued under the headline: ”High crime levels driving tourists away: Van Schalkwyk.”
The first paragraph stated: ”South Africa’s rampant crime was a major threat to the growth of the country’s tourism industry, Tourism Minister Marthinus Van Schalkwyk said on Monday.”
The report continued by stating: ”Speaking at the national conference of the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry, he said crime was one of the main factors preventing potentially millions more tourists from visiting the country.”
The report quoted the minister as saying, ”Research conducted by SA Tourism has indicated that while South Africa is in many respects an attractive tourist destination, fear of crime could be a possible deterrent to potential visitors.”
Van Schalkwyk’s ministry, in a later statement, said it ”totally distances itself from Sapa’s headline and first paragraph of the Sapa story”.
The ministry added: ”This is not a correct interpretation or reflection of the minister’s speech. The minister’s speech dealt with the actions that are being taken by government to address the issue.”
Sapa stands by its report on the matter. — Sapa