GOOD Speech by Patricia de Lille ,
GOOD Leader, Minister of Tourism & Member of Parliament
11 February 2024
The GOOD Party welcome the President’s commitment to the founding principles contained in the Government of National Unity, Statement of Intent – to reduce poverty, reduce the cost of living and address the indignity in which many of our people live.
However, we must acknowledge that regardless of all the noise, both locally and internationally, South Africa has constitutional and moral obligations to transform society, narrow inequality and create a nation in which all citizens have a stake.
Section 27 of our constitution guarantees the right to access basic needs, including healthcare, food, water, and social security.
It also places the onus on the state to take reasonable steps to ensure these rights are met.
The Social Relief of Distress grant has played a critical role in keeping millions afloat, but it remains insufficient to lift people out of extreme poverty.
The GNU needs to implement the social safety net we all agreed to in the statement of intent and implement a Basic Income Grant to alleviate poverty.
A properly structured Basic Income Grant would not just be a welfare measure, it would be an economic stimulus, increasing consumer spending, supporting small businesses, and creating demand-driven job opportunities.
Honourable Speaker, on the tourism front, we have made great strides in the past year and a key success has been our work with Operation Vulindlela in the Presidency, the State Security Agency and the Department of Home Affairs on the visa regime.
As stated by the President in the State of the Nation Address, we will continue to enhance our visa system to make it easier for skilled people to invest in our country and to grow tourism.
The Department of Tourism will use the visa enablers – the Electronic Travel Authorisation, the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme and the Digital Nomad Visas to grow tourism, targeting India and China.
As the Tourism sector, we commend the team in the Department of Home Affairs for the impressive gains made on the visa regime front.
The sector in India and China are very excited about this new initiative and we cannot wait to reap the rewards of this progress in the coming months.
As stated by the President in the State of the Nation Address: the diversity, energy and talent of the South African people is our greatest asset.
I must take this time to thank each and every person in the tourism sector for all their hard work and contributions to our growing sector and wish to thank them in advance for the work we will continue to do.
Another key development is that on 4 December 2024, Cabinet approved the Route Development Marketing Strategy to be implemented from 1 April 2025 by the Department of Tourism, SA Tourism and the private sector.
The Department of Tourism has made R6.5 million available for the implementation of the Route Development Marketing Strategy to enhance air access with further commitments from the private sector.
South Africa remains a premier tourism destination with its diverse people, places and products and we will be taking our work to the next level in partnership with the private sector and communities to ensure more people come and experience our beautiful country.
Media Enquiries:
Samantha Jackson, GOOD: Media Manager
Cell: 083 5509875
Email: samantha@forgood.org.za