5/05/2005: Speaking at
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens on
Thursday, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, Minister
of Environmental Affairs & Tourism said:
“Too often climate change is regarded as someone
else's problem. On the international stage
it is regularly pushed aside as secondary
to the interests of rampant economic gain,
or as an issue important only to some nations
threatened by rising ocean levels, or expanding
deserts. At the domestic level it is often
seen as a macro-threat with little direct
relevance to local communities or provincial
authorities. The simple truth however is that
climate change is everyone's problem,and that
over the next fifty years it may well define
the worst social, economic and environmental
challenges ever faced .”
The Minister was speaking at a media briefing
on the expected impacts of climate change
in South Africa . The briefing was also addressed
by Professor Brian Huntley, the Acting Chief
Executive of the SA National Biodiversity
Institute (SANBI) and members of his research
team, who detailed a number of worrying findings
in recent research about the expected impacts
of climate change in South Africa .
“It is our provinces, municipalities, and
local communities that will be worst-hit by
these changes,” said the Minister. “The research
presented today by SANBI shows, for example,
that climate change could lead to provinces
like Mpumalanga, Limpopo, the North West,
KwaZulu-Natal and even Gauteng becoming malaria
zones by 2050, with the number of South Africans
‘at high risk' quadrupling by 2020 – at an
added cost to the country of between 0,1%
and 0,2% of GDP .”
“The impacts would not be confined to health
challenges,” said the Minister. “ In less
than 100 years the research indicates that
thousands of plant species may well be extinct
, starting with a massive reduction in the
distribution of fynbos and succulent Karoo
biomes. These are the key to our flower-based
export markets and eco-tourism in the Western
and Northern Cape . Bird and mammal populations
may be reduced with high rates of extinction
in the central Highveld and even in the game-rich
Lowveld areas - and negative knock-on effects
for wildlife-based tourism.”
Turning to direct socio-economic impacts
the Minister added: “Clean water resources
will become more scarce, small-scale agriculture
is also likely to be hard-hit with less rainfall
in some regions and too much in others. Regional
migration will accelerate, placing added burdens
on urban centres. In short, climate change
will intensify the worst effects of poverty
through losses in biodiversity, agriculture,
health, and almost every sector of society
. In a developing country like South Africa
this means that our poorest communities will
also be worst hit by the impacts of climate
change.”
“These findings are cause for grave concern,”
said the Minister. “They are not, however,
cause for panic. The key to dealing with climate
change is to be as well informed as early
as possible to allow for action to be taken.
This is why our Government has made dealing
with climate change a national priority.”
Speaking about actions being taken by South
Africa to address these challenges the Minister
said: “We will continue to press, at the international
level, for all nations to take responsibility
for dealing with climate change – both by
reducing levels of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
and assisting developing nations in adapting
to the effects of climate change.”
“I am also pleased to announce today,” said
the Minister, “That, on the domestic front,
Cabinet has approved two new actions that
will help us to implement our Climate Change
Response Strategy. The first is approval for
a series of events to be held in October this
year including a Conference of African Scientists,
and a National Conference on Climate Change
to be held back-to-back with a meeting of
all African Ministers for the Environment.
The second action that has been approved is
a process of scenario-planning to examine
the different international models being proposed
to reduce GHG emissions . This planning will
identify the likely costs to South Africa
of each model,as well as examining which would
be most appropriate for our country.”
South Africa will also this year be carrying
out a Greenhouse Gas Inventory and working,
especially through the Department of Minerals
and Energy, towards reducing energy demands
by 12% by 2015, through the more efficient
use of power.
For more information contact: Riaan Aucamp
Igniting the South African Brand:Minister
Challenges Industry to Break 7 Million Visitor
Mark
Introduction
There is a moment like no other. It is known
only to those who have stood beneath the darkened
canopy of the African bushveld moments before
dawn. Sharing the silence with the symphony
of the circada beetles, haunted by the call
of the Piet-My-Vrou, and brushed by the touch
of the settling dew. As the first shards of
light crest the horizon, the energy that pulses
through the morning mists brings life to the
landscape and light to the mind. This is our
product. This is our heritage. This is our
pride.
As the rays of our Southern African sun stream
out, they wrap themselves in the experiences
of our land. Learning the game of marabaraba
in the heart of the QwaQwa National Park .
Throwing the bones with a Sangoma in Hluhluwe.
Marvelling at a khekhapa in the villages of
Modjadji the Rain Queen. Grinding corn with
the people of Khaya Lendaba near Port Elizabeth
. From beehive huts to initiation ceremonies,
eco-walks with traditional healers and the
music and dance of our people – these are
the sights and sounds of Mzansi.
Standing here – at the opening of Indaba
2005 – is one such moment. Raised up by the
success of the year just past, we hear echoes
of Sho't left, feel the warmth of our growing
global brand, and are energised by the possibilities
of the years ahead. Our future is one of vuvuzelas,
of travel and exploration without boundaries.
It is a future to be embraced by every community
in Southern Africa , and to be enjoyed by
the world. There has never been a more exciting
time to be a part of tourism in our region.
Laying Down the Challenge – 7 Million Visitors
in 2005
In 1994, the first year of our new democracy,
we experienced a taste of tourism potential.
Just under 3 million visitors travelled to
our country and we briefly glimpsed the power
of a sleeping giant.
Ten years of hard work, partnership and belief
have brought us great rewards and wakened
the giant of tourism growth. Over the past
three years – amongst the most difficult ever
experienced in world tourism – our international
arrivals have continued to grow. Last year
we recorded the highest number ever – 6,7
million international travellers for whom
our country and our people were the destination
of choice – and this is only the beginning.
In partnership with SA Tourism we have ignited
a new global flame. South and Southern Africa
is on the minds and lips of the world. From
China to Paris , from New York to Nairobi
the word is out. South Africa is open for
business, offers awesome experiences rooted
in the African soil and infused with the mystique
of the very origins of humankind. We stand
ready to welcome the world.
With this in mind I wish today to issue a
challenge to our industry , our partners and
our people. The challenge is to take this
new South African flame and use it to set
alight the possibilities. We must fan a brushfire
of enthusiasm for tourism to South Africa
until it burns with such heat that we move
from potential and interest to persuasion.
So here then is our goal - let us stand at
Indaba 2006 and look back on this year as
the one in which, together, we broke the barrier
of 7 million international visitors.
Ensuring Innovative Excellence – Introducing
the Welcome Awards
So how do we rise to meet this challenge?
When an enthusiastic traveller approaches
a travel agent about a destination how do
we ensure that it is South Africa and not
Australia or Brazil that is sold? How do we
reach out to new markets in parts of the world
that have never before considered Southern
Africa as an option – convince them to travel
here and then return repeatedly? The secret
is innovation excellence.
nspiration and recognition are key. There
are growing numbers of men and women, institutions
and organisations that are making our business
their business. Many of them are sitting in
this audience today. It is your enthusiasm
for Southern African tourism that transforms
simple holidays into life-changing experiences.
It is you who are sending tourists home as
ambassadors by consistently meeting and exceeding
the expectations of our visitors.
To stimulate our industry and to raise the
bar even higher in providing a truly globally
competitive visitor experience, I am proud
and excited today to announce the creation
of a new South African industry award for
tourism which we believe will be the ultimate
recognition for delivering service excellence
to visitors . I am pleased to unveil…the Welcome
Awards.
This magnificent statue will be awarded next
year at Indaba to the Grand Prix winner in
this best-of-the-best contest. The Welcome
Awards are about showcasing our tourism champions,
starting with four categories – accommodation,
tour operators, tourist guides and travel
agents. We will seek out those who rise above
world class – the people and organisations
in our industry blazing a trail of innovation
excellence for others to follow.
Better Statistics, Better Tourism
One of the important lessons that we have
learnt in the past ten years is that although
the element of chance can boost or limit growth,
long-term success in tourism is not coincidental.
It is the result of exhaustive research, intensive
planning, and professional implementation.
It is a partnership, a process, and above
all a product that stays fresh and appealing.
We now know enough about tourism to know
how little we really know. One of the most
critical tools in meeting the target of 7
million arrivals this year, and bettering
it in the years to follow, is improving our
tourism information. For too long we have
based our planning on incomplete data, and
anecdotal evidence.
In 2005 this will all change. T o generate
reliable, internationally benchmarked figures,
we will be creating a Tourism Satellite Account
in partnership with StatsSA, the Reserve Bank
and others. Amongst the most important information
that this will generate for our industry is
the specific contribution of tourism to GDP,
the actual number of direct and indirect jobs
in tourism, the quantity of tourism investment,
and revenues generated by tourism across South
Africa. Once complete we will finally have
the full tourism picture, which in turn will
help us to keep growing.
Changing the Face of Tourism
At Indaba last year we identified the need
to change the face of our industry – to open
the house of South African tourism to all
communities and to ensure that tourism in
our country crosses not only physical borders
but draws people together across the boundaries
of the mind. It is deeply gratifying that
tomorrow will see us taking the single most
important step in this process since 1994
with the official launch of our Tourism Black
Economic Empowerment Charter.
Although the Charter is a groundbreaking
commitment by industry to greater access for
all communities to the benefits of tourism,
it is most remarkable because if it a product
driven and drafted primarily by industry –
not by Government.
In a similar vein I would like to announce
that, working closely with our provincial
government and all local governments involved,
we will tomorrow embark on a public consultation
process to find a better name for our first
World Heritage Site – the Greater St. Lucia
Wetland Park . We need a name that will reflect
the incredible achievements of this national
heritage flagship. We need a name that will
embody the unique South African identity of
the park – and one that enjoys the support
of all our people.
Conclusion
The dawning of the African sun brings with
it a powerful message of awakening. As it
reaches out to warm the land it stirs the
hearts and energies of man and beast alike
– rousing them from slumber and energising
them to seize the opportunities of the new
day. It brings with it the promise of new
experiences, new understandings and new horizons.
Indaba remains the largest and most important
tourism trade show in Southern Africa and
is now established as one of the top three
‘must visit' events of its kind on the global
calendar. Every year it seems that the next
Indaba will be hard-pressed to match the achievements
of the year before - and every year the reality
of this massive undertaking outpaces every
expectation, and surpasses every projection.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank
and compliment every person involved in this
event.
Our undertaking to the world must be one
of exceptional quality, unrivalled experiences,
and world-beating value-for-money. Our shared
responsibility, as Government, operators,
and travellers is to ensure and to demand
tourism products that sustain and support
our communities, our environment and our future.
Our tourism sun continues to climb towards
new global heights. What we do here today
and over the course of this Indaba is to chart
our journey together. We have cleared the
fields and planted the seeds of tourism success.
What remains is the cultivation to ensure
a rich harvest.
From business tourism to eco-travel, from
peace-parks to cultural products the heart
of Southern African tourism beats with the
rhythm of this place. Let us give life to
this Indaba, let us together grow our industry
and our people under the African sun. It is
my great privilege to officially declare Indaba
2005 open for business.
