Note that this article has been amended for factual correctness. We previously stated that the Masterplan was open to public comment, but the Department of Tourism has confirmed that the document will not be open for public comment.  

South Africa’s Tourism Sector Masterplan – which proposes seven key interventions to bolster the sector – has been approved by Cabinet and published in the Government Gazette.

After the Department of Tourism fulfilled its mandate to convert the Tourism Sector Recovery Plan (TSRP) into a Masterplan, the new document was gazetted on Friday, October 13.

“The Masterplan aims to galvanise industry, labour and government to collectively act on a shared vision, identify priorities, and deliver economic activity and jobs for all South Africans,” said Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille in a press statement.

“As the TSRP has a lifespan of three years, from 2021/22 to 2023/24, the Department of Tourism embarked on a process to convert the TSRP into the Tourism Sector Masterplan. This entailed the integration of all TSRP interventions into the Tourism Sector Masterplan, with the extension of the timeframe for implementation up to the 2025/26 financial year,” said De Lille, explaining that the pillars and strategic interventions of the TSRP had been adopted for the Masterplan.

The seven strategic interventions outlined in the Masterplan are as follows:

1. Implement norms and standards for safe operations across the value chain to enable safe travel and rebuild traveller confidence.

2. Stimulate domestic demand through targeted initiatives and campaigns.

3. Strengthen the supply-side through resource mobilisation and investment facilitation.

4. Support for the protection of core tourism infrastructure and assets.

5. Execute a global marketing programme to reignite international demand.

6. Tourism regional integration.

7. Create an enabling policy environment to provide enhanced support for sector growth and development.

Each of the strategic interventions will be supported by catalytic programmes with specific actions, timeframes and indications of those responsible for implementing each action.

In consideration of the fact that, “even with the best branding, marketing and experiences, the growth of the sector will be impacted if partnerships to address barriers that limit growth are left unattended”, the Masterplan also highlights three key enablers to ensure implementation of the plan, namely:

• Form targeted, strategic partnerships between government and industry.
• Partner with relevant departments to ensure improved travel facilitation through implementation of e-visas, tourist safety, airlift capacity and quicker turnaround times in the processing of tour operator licences.
• Stimulate domestic demand through Government consumption expenditure.

“The successful implementation and resourcing of the Masterplan depends on the commitment of all stakeholders to adopt an integrated approach in implementing the identified strategic interventions and actions. This requires sound and effective governance structures and processes that manage and support tourism which the Masterplan has outlined,” De Lille said.

The Tourism Sector Masterplan is available on the Department’s website at www.tourism.gov.za.