TBCSA Offices, 3 Amethyst Avenue, Lyttleton Manor Ext 3, Centurion,
Pretoria, 0157, PO Box 11655, Centurion, 0046, Gauteng, South Africa,
Telephone: +27 12 664 0120 | Facsimile: +27 12 664 0103,
Email: tourism@tbcsa | Website: www.tbcsa.org.za,
TBCSA - 2008/011486/08
THIS TRAVEL & TOURISM WEEK
Edition 09/17
For the week ending 17 March 2017
Dear Members
Welcome to this edition of THIS TRAVEL & TOURISM WEEK. The week started with news of
Durban losing the right to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games. However, on a more positive
note, progress is being made regarding the armed robbery that took place at ORTIA recently –
let’s hope this will lead to arrests and prosecutions soon.
ASATA held the first of its member roadshows in Pretoria in the past week. One of the major
talking points from the CEO’s presentation was its application to be recognized as a professional
body. SAQA has now gazetted this application for public comment. We wish the association all
the best and hope that their success will pave the way for all the other member organizations with
similar plans.
Still on the issue of skills and human resource development, we remind you to please complete
our HR and Skills Needs survey – So far; the responses received are too few to allow for proper
analysis. The deadline has been extended – if you are yet to respond, we urge you to please
complete this important survey.
TALKING POINT: DIP IN Q1 BUSINESS CONFIDENCE – WILL TBI REFLECT THE SAME?
The latest Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) business confidence index released in the week cites that
South Africa’s business confidence rose slightly in the first quarter of 2016. The index rose to 40
points compared to 38 from the previous quarter, but is still significantly behind the neutral 50mark which represents normal levels of business confidence. Many economy commentators are
expressing concern that the latest index could hamper any efforts to boost economic growth.
Will the upcoming Tourism Business Index results reflect a similar picture?
One cannot help but to think that the low confidence reflected in the RMB Index (although slightly
improved from 2016 Q4) will be mirrored in the upcoming TBI 2017 Q1 results. However, the
buoyancy of the travel and tourism industry may yet surprise us as it has in the past, where
tourism businesses have regularly expressed satisfactory business performance while other
industries have expressed the exact opposite. We certainly hope this is the case once again.
Q1 Tourism Business Index Report is due for release in April. Click Here for the Q4 TBI Report
If you have received the survey, please remember to complete and submit on time. If you have
not received the survey but wish to participate please email [email protected]
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PRESENTATION: NATIONAL TOURISM STAKEHOLDERS FORM (NTSF) MEETING FEEDBACK
The 2017 edition of the NTSF meeting took place in the week. The forum is a meeting of key
stakeholders in the local travel and tourism industry. It's a platform for these stakeholders to take
stock of developments within the sector, to receive updates on the implementation of the
National Tourism Sector Strategy from the National Department of Tourism (representing all three
spheres of government) and the private sector (represented by the TBCSA) and to deliberate
about future plans/strategies to support and sustain the sector.
As usual, the TBCSA was invited to present private sector’s overview of the state of the travel and
tourism sector, its big issues and provide insight into TBCSAs 2017 plan of action. Other than the
CEO attending, the TBCSA was represented by members from ASATA; FEDHASA; SAVRALA and
BARSA. Click here to view the presentation.
In the review of the implementation of the NTSS, the meeting received presentations on the
following items:
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Tourism Month. This was supposed to be a presentation on the reshaping and repositioning
of the programme. It was unfortunate that the report presented at the meeting failed to
provide signs on the repositioning of the programme. The DG apologized for this and
promised to have a team to work on the repositioning of the programme and to consult with
industry partners in the early part of their new financial year.
Domestic Tourism Strategy. The meeting received a presentation outlining the NDT and SA
Tourism’s review of the implementation of the existing strategy and their plans going
forward. Please see the Domestic Tourism strategy review presentation here
National Tourism Satellite Account. The colleagues from the StatsSA delivered a
presentation on the latest reports on the Tourism Satellite Account (TSA), which revealed
some interesting information about our sector and its performance. Please see the TSA
presentation here.
NDT and SA Tourism Priorities for 2017/18 Financial Year. The meeting received
presentations from the NDT and SAT on their plans and priorities for the financial year
commencing on 1st April 2017. We will share the two presentations with members as soon as
they become available.
Review of the NTSS. The NDT presented the draft review of the NTSS and the proposal on
the strategy going forward, which is due for consideration in Cabinet. The review of the NTSS
was the work of the Ministerial NTSS Review Panel, which included some members of the
TBCSA and TOMSA board members. Please see the NTSS review presentation here.
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UPDATE ON POLICY: FEEDBACK ON POLICY FROM THE BUSA BOARD MEETING OF 2ND MARCH
In its most recent bulletin to members, BUSA gave an update on their activities regarding policy
matters. Please find snippets from that update with the following items that we hope will be
relevant for members to note:
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Productive and Stable Labour Market
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BUSA is actively engaged in the Labour Market Chamber as well as working on the
exemptions and methodology relating to the National Minimum Wage and Labour
Relations Stability provisions.
Transformed, Inclusive Economy that Creates Sustainable Development
A BUSA Economic Think Tank met on 16 February to provide input that formed the basis of
the BUSA Economic Strategy. A follow-up meeting then took place in the past week that
discussed policy shifts necessary to achieve economic transformation. We will update
members on the highlights from this meeting as and when we get a meeting summary
from BUSA.
Small and Medium Enterprise Action Plan
Members may be aware that BUSA conducted research in 2015/16 that resulted in an
‘Enabling Environment for Sustainable Employment’ report and a SME Action Plan. BUSA
has also recently completed a report (with TBCSA input) towards a definition of small
business and is also working with TIPS on identifying constraints to registration for small
businesses.
Trade Regime and International Co-operation that enables South African Businesses
BUSA endeavours to influence trade policy and agreements that are supportive of business
development and an inclusive economy.
Education and Skills Development for Current and Future Work
BUSA continues to engage at NEDLAC on the revised National Skills Development Plan,
which aims to shape the architecture of post-school education and training. The next
meeting at NEDLAC on the Plan is scheduled for 31 March.
We will provide you with feedback from the BUSA EconPol standing committee meeting in the
next Weekly update. Please look out for it because it has a way forward on the critical matters
such as the National Minimum Wage (NMW), the planned Carbon Tax and Sugary-Sweetened
beverages, the Davies Tax Commission; BUSA submission on AARTO and many more.
HEADS UP: TOURISM PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE PLANS TO MEET WITH BUSINESS
The Tourism Portfolio Committee (TPC) plans to host nationwide stakeholder engagements
involving the travel and tourism trade in 2017. The key objectives of each provincial engagement
will be:
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for trade to offer suggestions to government on challenges and best practices to improve
tourism service delivery;
to get a briefing from the trade on the state of tourism in the province;
to conduct oversight on how tourism attractions are maintained;
to conduct oversight on community/rural initiatives as well as infrastructure/business
projects in progress or in the pipeline
Although no dates and venues have been confirmed, the first set of engagements are set to take
place in the Free State from 27 - 31 March 2017. We have been requested by TPC to urge our
members to participate and encourage RSVPs to each event. So, please look out as we bring you
more on these important engagements between trade and government once the dates are
confirmed.
TRAVEL & TOURISM TRADE
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HAVE YOUR SAY: SAQA GAZETTES ASATA PROFESSIONAL BODY APPLICATION
The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) has published ASATA’s application to be
recognised as a professional body in the Government Gazette for comment. ASATA will be
evaluated in the following criteria and once approved, will be recognised as a professional Travel
Practitioner (T Prac)
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Governance, Management and Sustainability
Disciplinary Matters and Accountability
Data Management
Continuing Professional Development
Awarding of Professional Designations
Members can request to obtain the complete report to comment on at 012 431 5122
or [email protected] We wish ASATA a seamless process of Professional Designation, which
will demonstrate their ability and dedication to quality assurance and standards development
(among other elements) we need to see more of in South Africa.
HAVE YOUR SAY: TOURISM SKILLS GAP SURVEY
Due to a low rate of responses, we have extended the deadline for the Industry HR and Skills
Needs Survey to Friday 24 March 2017. You may have already received calls from our office asking
you to participate in the survey or once again disseminate the survey link to your members,
encouraging their participation.
The survey’s critical purpose: The purpose of the survey is to determine the current skills
needs/gaps amongst the TBCSA members to help determine the industry needs for the future as
per the resolution of our board. It also attempts to highlight those critical and scarce skills most
needed in the sector, which will inform our input in our discussions with Government and its
agencies. We kindly urge your participation in this regard. If we fail to secure the responses
needed for us to comfortably determine the needs within our membership, we will have to
abandon the exercise and inform the NDT and Labour Department accordingly. If you feel that the
survey needs adjustments, please also let us know so we can amend it. Click here to start the
survey
TSI INTERVENTION LEADS TO POLICE INVESTIGATIONS AND ARREST
We are pleased to report two success stories from the TSI:
1. A man who checked into Angel’s Place Guesthouse in Pretoria reportedly fired a gunshot
through the television in his room, while also being suspected for dealing in drugs. After
viewing the scene, guesthouse staff noticed the damaged television and a number of empty
tablet containers. The incident was reported to SAPS as well as the TSI. After weeks of no
action from the Police, the TSI approached the office of the Provincial Secretariat for Police in
Gauteng to escalate the lack of response by the police. It did not take long for SAPS to
investigate the scene and arrest a suspect after intervention by the Provincial Secretariat. The
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suspect has apparently sold the gun used but has agreed to show police the person to whom
he sold it to. We will update you on these developments.
2. For many years, a man by the name of Johan Kotze was suspected of stealing from a number
of B&Bs and Guesthouses across South Africa. Mr. Kotze was able to steal television sets and
other appliances from guesthouses in the middle of the night whilst the owners were sleeping.
Through initiative by the NAA-SA vice chair, who works closely with the TSI, Mr. Johan Kotze
was arrested and has already been convicted of theft and sentenced to 18 months
imprisonment.
OUTSTANDING PAYMENTS TO THE TRADE: GOVERNMENT INTERVENES
The Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) gave an update to the
department’s Parliamentary Committee on the progress government has made on the payment of
outstanding invoices to service providers. The DPME update to the Committee included:
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In the last 15 months, ± R280m in outstanding invoices has been paid to service providers
To date, a total of 190 cases have been lodged through the unit of which 68 are settled
38 cases are still under investigation, whereas 54 payments are under litigation/dispute
Out of 40 departments, 12 have maintained a clean record of paying all invoices on time
Another 12 departments have demonstrated an improvement in paying invoices
Out of 40 departments, 19 departments did not have unpaid invoices
The number of unpaid invoices older than 30 days were:
- 7 960 in October 2016
(translating to R96m)
- 1 295 in November 2016 (R59m)
- 11 680 in December 2016 (R33m)
Unsettled invoices can have a negative impact on small businesses, particularly in the travel and
tourism industry. We welcome efforts made by government in settling invoices older than 30 days
and we will make periodical follow-ups with members to find out if it’s working.
KEY EVENTS, MEETINGS AND PUBLICATIONS IN THE WEEK AHEAD:
Meetings
22 March
Cape JAMMS Session, Cape Town ICC
Membership Meeting: Europcar
23 March
Membership Meeting: PHASA
23–24 Mar
NSA Meeting
Publications
20 March
20 March
22 March
StatsSA Tourist Accommodation Report, January 2017
StatsSA Food and Beverages Report, January 2017
StatsSA Consumer Price Index (CPI), February 2017
Important Public Dates to note
21 March
Public Holiday: Human Rights Day
22 March
World Water Day
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INVITATIONS:
SAT CEO TO HOST A PUBLIC LECTURE ON IMPORTANCE OF TOURISM TO ECONOMY – 22 MARCH
Members are invited to a public lecture hosted by the Wits Business School (WBS) and delivered
by SA Tourism CEO, Sisa Ntshona. The lecture will focus on travel and tourism in South Africa and
ways in which stakeholders in the sector can work together for the greater good of the country.
The lecture will touch on:
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The importance and relevance of tourism within the SA economy
A ‘5-in-5’ growth strategy: a market investment framework
Transforming through inclusive growth
Details to the event are as follows:
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Date: Wednesday 22 March 2017
Time: 17h30 for 18h00
Venue: Donald Gordon Auditorium, Wits Business School, 2 St David’s Place, Parktown
Register here
We wish all members a happy Human Rights Day tomorrow!
As always, we welcome and will embrace your feedback on the contents of this newsletter.
Yours Sincerely
Ms. Mmatšatši Ramawela
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
TRAVEL & TOURISM TRADE
ASSOCIATIONS AFFILIATED TO TBCSA