Summary: The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism has a vital role to play in the eradication of poverty and job creation. We have to preserve the unique resources in South Africa for the generations to come. We urge the Department to further increase its efforts in order to combat poaching and make South Africa a very unattractive destination for potential poachers and illegal syndicates that aim to destroy and raid our environment and resources. We have to grow the local tourism industry. The slow pace at which transformation is taking place within the tourism industry is of great concern.

Madame Speaker,

It is an honour for me to be participating in this, my first budget vote debate. I hope to contribute and learn from my interaction and involvement with everyone in the committee, as well as the relevant stakeholders and role-players.

The aim of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism is to lead and support environmental management and tourism in the interest of sustainable development.

The potential of this department in poverty eradication and job creation, as well as all other factors contributing to the overall prosperity of South Africa should not be underestimated or taken for granted as it has a vital role to play.

Expenditure has increased to R1, 5 billion in 2003/04 from R747, 1 million in 2000/01. There is a further increase to the department's budget to R1, 8 billion in 2006/07. Very encouraging was that the poverty relief allocation rose rapidly from R133 million in 2000/01 to R305, 6 million in 2003/04, it further increases to R383, 9 million in 2006/07.

Madame Speaker the resources that we in South Africa possess form an integral part of our land and are part of what makes us truly and proudly South African, and distinguishes us from the rest of the world. Many of these resources are unique to South Africa. I therefore get saddened and worried when I see or read about deforestation and destruction, or the poaching of these precious resources. We have to preserve them for generations to come.

The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, together with other governmental departments, like Safety and Security and Justice, should be congratulated for the work that has been done to protect our resources. There have been a number of high profile arrests and convictions. One of which was the conviction of a former Cape Town fishing magnate who was jailed by the New York federal court for three years and ten months for his involvement in an international lobster and patagonian toothfish poaching and smuggling syndicate. His sentencing comes after a joint investigation by the Scorpions, Marine and Coastal Management (MCM) and US authorities.

Although we do applaud these efforts, we urge the department to further increase its efforts in order to combat poaching and make South Africa a very unattractive destination for potential poachers and illegal syndicates that aim to destroy and raid our environment and resources.

The South African Tourism Indaba, which was held in Durban last month, was a huge success and a great showcase of the industry. An encouraging feature of the 2004 Indaba was the presence of tourism authorities from seven other African countries. The Province of KwaZulu Natal, and the city of Durban in particular, should be congratulated for once again successfully hosting the Indaba.

The launch of the Domestic Tourism Growth Strategy was of particular importance as research shows that 49, 3 million trips are made annually by South Africans which comprise 46 percent of the total travel expenditure. This is a sector that must be targeted vigorously; we cannot afford to ignore it. We have to encourage South Africans to travel domestically and enjoy the beauty and all that this beautiful land has to offer. We have to grow the local tourism industry.

Madame Speaker there is no disputing the fact that the tourism industry creates many jobs and has the potential to create many more and assist in the eradication of poverty which is ravaging South Africa. It is therefore important to note that R667 million was spent on 398 community projects and, to date, 34 632 temporary job opportunities have been created.

The poverty relief programme's contribution is invaluable and does have a positive effect for many communities and individuals. The challenge now lies in trying to create more sustainable employment. There must be a balance between the creation of long term and short-term employment.

The slow pace at which transformation is taking place within the tourism industry is of great concern. We need real change and representivity in this industry if it is to move forward with the rest of the country.

We know that there are black people capable of performing and excelling in the various sectors of the industry, for example tourism guides, but they need the right training and guidance. For real transformation to take place, all stakeholders in the industry have to be willing to get involved and assist in this process. A situation cannot be allowed to arise whereby people of colour are put into various positions within the industry, without possessing the relevant knowledge, just to make up the numbers. This will create more damage.

Madame Speaker, this department has been doing a good job and has played an important part in the success of South Africa during the first 10 years of democracy and I am sure that it will continue to do so in the future.