Tourism sector steps up as confidence in SA Tourism wanes: yet another argument for less state control

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It appears that the private tourism sector is taking steps to become increasingly self-sufficient and manage its own affairs, as government's ability to properly fulfil its role keeps diminishing.

The CEO of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA), Mr Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, recently stated in a media interview (The Daily Tourism Update) that the Council has already taken over many functions from SA Tourism (SAT). 

This is because of SAT's growing incompetence.

He said that from now on, the Council will perform many of the duties that SAT was actually supposed to carry out, using the 1% tourism marketing levy that has not been paid to the beleaguered SAT since September 2025.

The well-organised and professional tourism sector currently has more than half a billion rand from Tourism Marketing South Africa (TOMSA) available to use for international tourism marketing opportunities, joint marketing agreements and targeting key tourism markets.

This is essentially the work that SAT was supposed to do.

SAT recently made the headlines after its executive board was dismissed, its chief marketing officer, Thembisile Senhloho, was suspended and its chief operating officer, Mr Darryl Erasmus, resigned.  

Enquiries revealed ongoing interference and irregularities at SAT by the Office of the Minister of Tourism, Ms Patricia de Lille, and her Department.  

Clearly, government interference and state-controlled marketing organisations are of no benefit to the tourism sector.

Mr David Frost, CEO of the Southern African Tourism Services Association (SATSA), stated in the same media interview that his Association had tried to collaborate with SAT, but is no longer willing to do so.

The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) welcomes this step, as the South African tourism sector is well developed and can manage and market itself far better than the Department or the state’s marketing body SAT can.

It is regrettable, however, that emerging role players in tourism will be left behind due to unsuccessful and unnecessary government interference.