HERITAGE AND TOURISM PRESENTED BY MR VUSITHEMBA NDIMA

CONTENTS 1.INTRODUCTION 2.DISCUSSION 3.CONCLUSION 2

1.INTRODUCTION 1.1South African heritage has potential to contribute significantly to the country’s economic development. 1.2According to a 2004 Satour Report, the tourism industry identified the following cultural experience product gaps that require improvement and diversification, museums, South African Cuisine, African Curio shops and township experiences. 1.3There is also a strong perception that although the cultural resource is seen as a strong advantage, the industry believes that it is underperforming relative to its potential. 3

2.DISCUSSION 2.1Cultural products need to be more targeted, more authentic and more sophisticated. 2.2Heritage sites of local, provincial and national significance form part of the tourism product. 2.3World Heritage Sites are the joint responsibility of DAC and the Department of Environmental Affairs. There is a need for deeper collaboration on strategy and management of these important resources. The tourism industry has a tourism levy which is reinvested into the industry. 2.4Whilst the cultural and heritage sector is an important part of tourism, none of the levy directly goes to the sector. This needs to be rectified. 2.5There are discussions in the heritage sector for a heritage levy, alternatively for modalities that will result in the sharing and fair distribution of the tourism levy. 4

2.DISCUSSION (CONT.) 2.6Annual cultural festivals that are supported by government should be used to mobilize and attract tourists e.g. Macufe, Grahamstown National arts festival, annual Jazz festival, Carnivals etc. 2.7There is an increasing market for battlefield tours which attracts researchers and military buffs. 2.8Craft outlets that sell crafts produced by diverse cultural groups. 2.9Graves of kings and queens of historical significance. 2.10Graves sites of struggle heroes. 2.11Globally, the tourism industry is one of the fastest growing industries, this offers opportunities not only for the growth of the industry in South Africa, but the expansion of the South African economy. 2.12There is a need for aligning programmes of various departments on tourism, e.g. Tourism Indaba and the Beautiful Things exhibition, Heritage month with Tourism month. 5

2.DISCUSSION (CONT.) 2.13International tourists often do cross border safaris to enjoy SADC regional wildlife in RSA, Zimbabwe, Botswana etc. 2.14South Africa shares cultures with many SADC countries. There is a need for an integrated regional approach to tourism development that encompasses the whole region. 2.15Cultural villages, museums, monuments and galleries spread throughout the country. 6

3.CONCLUSION 3.1Due to the importance of culture in the tourism industry, DAC and the tourism department are working together in mainstreaming culture in tourism activities, as well as making tourism and essential audience in the many arts, culture and heritage festivals that take place in the country. 3.2The two departments are also working together to develop a five year heritage and social history tourism strategy. 3.3The Strategy will produce a comprehensive plan on engendering synergies between culture and tourism 7

Thank You 8