SOUTH AFRICA’S SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT MODEL

Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment

4th IIPT African ConferencePeace through Tourism

21st May 2007Kampala, Uganda

Dr Tanya AbrahamseSouth Africa

Before 1994 No sharing of small cake

• Tourism used as sanctions busting• Totally white owned, managed and large part employed• Petty apartheid – restaurants, parks, hotels – no black

customers• Animals, landscapes – Norway in the sun!!• Globally- Tourism fastest growing economic sector• The greatest job creator in the world• SA – huge HDI differential, high unemployment, skills

level problem• Reconstruction & Development Programme (RDP)

Responsible Tourism Policy 1996

• Weave in an RDP approach • Responsible – Environment, local communities,

employers and employees• Seeds for sustainability• Supported by Constitution (Human Rights)• And an array of legislation – NEMA, Labour Acts, Skills

Act, etc• Hindsight – did not tackle key legacy of racial inequality

By 2000

Some success contributed to transformation• Re-branding – unique African destination• Infrastructure investment & SMME support• FairTrade and other NGO (small drop)• Growth of the economy and emerging black middle class

with expendable income• Shó’t Left Campaign focus on new home market

segments• 10 fold growth in international visitors

BUT STILL NOT TRANSFORMED TBCSA and Voluntary Charter – the beginning of frank

discussion and broad agreement from the private sector

2003 and the BBBEE Act

• Broad based on 7 levels/areas• Ownership, Participation in management, Employment,

Skills commitment, Procurement, Enterprise development and CSR

• Voluntary compliance access to government & parastatal procurement

• Knock on effect – eg Banking sector• Charter – commitment

• Scorecard – the nuts and bolts on compliance

SA Tourism sector & BBBEE

• Makes business sense• One of first, consultative and broadly supported• By 2005 done and dusted• Result - huge capital flow, tapping on new talents,

perspectives and energies• Breaking ‘old boy’s network’ and new exciting ways to do

business• Increased competitiveness in procurement, eg• Tourism BBBEE Charter Council – monitors progress

Sustainability – a complex process

Path to sustainability multi pronged & indicators of success shifts

1. Confidence and ‘buy in’ of local people – on the ground & the middle classes too – BBBEE aim

2. Access to & understanding markets - .travel & what is a tourist? – breaking stereotypes, improving perceptions

3. Private sector organised and involved4. Public/private institutions with clear mandates and roles5. Openess, Frankness, Respect, Equity & clarity of goals 6. Communication – the good, the bad & for the long haul7. Fix the indirect issues - not only for tourists (public

transport, provision of housing and water, crime etc)

Sustainability = Stake in the industry = Peace & Stability

• Good, clear rules & stable environment to do business• Well run businesses (pay tax) – large, medium & small• Quality jobs underpinned by skills development• Competition in procurement to lift standards• Stable markets (domestic & international)

TOURISMEVERYBODY’S BUSINESS TO

OWN, EMPLOY, SERVICE AND ENJOY !!!