Western Cape MEC of Finance and Economic Opportunities, David Maynier, vowed to continue building a partnership with the hospitality industry to create a thriving economy in the province, speaking at the Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (Fedhasa) Cape region’s 2019 AGM on July 17.
Maynier said the provincial government intended to prioritise the tourism sector, and also referred to success stories such as the Air Access programme. Air Access has ensured that various airlines have elected to fly directly to Cape Town International Airport.
Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Opportunities and Asset Management, Alderman James Vos, also addressed Fedhasa Cape members, urging collective action on issues affecting the tourism industry while listing actions planned by the City of Cape Town to support tourism. Vos’s portfolio includes the tourism function in Cape Town.
“We are committed to boost cultural experiences and help diversify Cape Town’s tourism offering to lead to more community involvement and an increase in economic benefits. The City’s objective is to facilitate sustainable job creation in a depressed economic climate, to help establish 'tourism-preneurs' while transforming the tourism landscape in Cape Town,” he said.
“My immediate priority is to work with the sector to drive demand that makes business sense, and implement strategies that will bring about ease of doing business and ease of travel. Examples of this are cutting red tape while dealing with constraints to growth and increase airlift and connectivity while addressing affordability and geographic spread.”
At the AGM, Cape Chairperson, Jeff Rosenberg, said, despite numerous challenges the industry faced, it was heartening to note an increase in dam levels and that room occupancy had shown growth, following the water crisis the previous year.
Rosenberg said the association would continue to lobby government on a number of issues – including short-term letting through the new the Tourism Amendment Bill and the easing of regulations around visas – and will advocate for transformation throughout the industry.
