Picture: Portfolio Committee chairperson on Tourism, Supra Mahumapelo
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
The Portfolio Committee on Tourism has expressed unwavering support to the sector amid COVID-19. This comes after the Minister of Tourism, Mamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane addressed the committee recently. Kubayi-Ngubane said while easing lockdown regulations in the sector was aimed at assisting businesses, it had to be done under strict conditions in reinforcing the government’s health objectives towards defeating Covid-19.
“Our focus will be on supporting domestic tourism as the first point of recovery. However, we would like to caution that the recovery of the entire tourism industry would largely depend on how travel-ready authorities were in terms of managing and controlling coronavirus locally and globally,” she said.
The Portfolio Committee chairperson, Supra Mahumapelo said: “We would like to express our full support for the department’s efforts to re-open the tourism industry. We want to also thank the department for its commitment and effort to save the industry while balancing the pressure both from industry stakeholders and the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The department has been commended for heeding the call to include the promotion of villages, townships and small towns in the District Development Model. We all have a role to play in defeating coronavirus and rebuilding the tourism industry and our economy.”
Mahumapelo also calls on all relevant parliamentary committees to support the industry in its drive to manage the reopening of the tourism industry, but to do so cautiously without unnecessary risks to the lives of innocent citizens and the people who work in the industry. He said the department has informed the committee members that 3 861 companies and individuals had already benefited from the R200 million Tourism Relief Fund, with assistance capped at R50 000.
Meanwhile, the Tourism department Director-General, Victor Tharage confirmed that the department lost close to R1 billion in its re-adjusted budget as announced by Finance Minister Tito Mboweni. However, Tharage added that although there were difficult times ahead for the industry and those dependent on it, his department would still be able to meet all its amended targets in line with its adjusted budget.
The Guardian 