Last month, Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane gazetted the Draft Norms and Standards for the safe operation of the tourism industry in the current COVID-19 environment and beyond.
Now open for written comment, the draft proposes minimum universal practices that the tourism sector must abide by to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Detailed in the Draft Norms and Standards are the following:
- Application of the Norms and Standards
- Norms and Standards for Tourism Establishments
- Norms and Standards for Places of Attractions
- Norms and Standards for Events, Weddings, Meetings and Convention Centres
- Norms and Standards for Food Service
- Norms and Standards for Tour Operators
- Norms and Standards for Casinos
- Norms and Standards for Curio Shops
But as Johan Radcliffe of Dirty Boots Adventures points out, there is no mention of the Adventure Industry – a serious omission of what is the fastest growing sector of tourism internationally!
Not only is adventure tourism an important driver of both local and international tourism in the country but almost everyone working in the tourism industry is reliant on a strong Activities and Experiences sector.
According to Radcliffe, one of the main reasons the industry has not been able to open under certain restrictions over the past year, is that it is not seen as a separate sector under Tourism or Sport and Recreation.
By including adventure operators in the final document, the industry can operate with clear guidelines in place, receive due consideration when future regulations are published, have access to possible funding, and make it easier for the adventure sector to object to certain blanket regulations in the industry – allowing it to operate under certain restrictions.
Please show your support and lend your voice to the Adventure Industry today! To see it included in the final Norms and Standards document, please put forward your written submission before 22 March 2021 (within 60 days of the gazette).
The correspondence must be for the attention of the Minister of Tourism (Ms Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane) and emailed to msetwaba@tourism.gov.za and TourNormStand@tourism.gov.za.
To make it easier, Johan Radcliffe has put together a suggested response on your behalf:
To Ms Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, Minister of Tourism
With respect to the ‘Draft National Norms and Standards for the Safe Operations of Tourism Sector in the Context of the Coronavirus Covid-19 and Beyond’, we notice that no allowance has been made for the inclusion of tourism activities and experiences. The adventure tourism industry is known to be the fastest growing sector of tourism internationally, and South Africa’s adventure tourism industry is an important driver of both local and international tourism in the country.
We therefore request the addition of a section in the draft that references norms and standards for tourism activities and experiences.
Section 12 ‘Norms and Standards for Tour Operators’ covers the same points that are needed for activities and experiences. So, we request that this section is replicated, and a new section entitled ‘Norms and Standards for Tourism Activities and Experiences’ is inserted in the draft, with the words ‘tour operator’ simply being replaced with tourism activities and experiences’ where they occur.
Your Sincerely
John Doe – ABC Adventures
(please personalise with your details)
If you have any questions or suggestions regarding the above, please feel free to email Johan directly on: johan@dirtyboots.co.za.
