With the announcement of South Africa’s new cabinet yesterday, the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) has been split.
The newly-formed Department of Tourism will be headed up by Marthinus van Schalkwyk, the former Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. He will be supported by Thozile Xasa, who has been named as Deputy Minister of Tourism.
Environmental Affairs now falls under what has been named the Ministry of Water and Environmental Affairs which will be headed up by Buyelwa Sonjica. Former Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Rejoice Mabhudafhasi, has been named as the Deputy Minister of that department.
South African Tourism (SAT) has congratulated van Schalkwyk in his appointment. Said Jabu Mabuza, SAT chairperson: "We welcome the government's decision to have a dedicated Minister and department. This is recognition of both this industry's importance to the economy that is embodied in the Tourism Growth Strategy, whose mandate it is to create jobs and contribute to Gross Domestic Product."
"With the focus and recognition of the need for a dedicated tourism ministry, we hope that additional resources will be invested in tourism because so much rides on this industry that has delivered, and will continue to deliver, significantly to our economy."
Industry pundits say the move to introduce a tourism ministry is a positive step for the sector. The initial fears that the importance of the environment to tourism would be lost with the split between Environmental Affairs and Tourism seem to have been allayed by retaining Van Schalkwyk, known for his focus on environmental issues during his tenure.
