An analysis of a national strategic framework to promote tourism, leisure, sport and recreation in South Africa

Abstract

The primary purpose of the paper is to highlight the extent to which selected macro policy components namely, leisure, sport, recreation, tourism growth, tourism safety and security, environmental management and tourism education and training have been realised in South Africa, and three selected African countries, and to investigate whether the realization will benefit leisure and recreation in general and tourism, in and around, South Africa in particular. The White Paper on the Development and Promotion of Tourism in South Africa, May 1996, formed the primary document for this investigation, although reference is made to the 2005 Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) Strategic Plan, and various Acts of the Department of Sport and Recreation, and selected legislation in Namibia, Botswana and Kenya, by way of comparison. This study, therefore, reflects the situation up to April 2009. The authors are aware that due to recent cabinet reshuffles, the DEAT has been divided into two portfolios which split environmental affairs and tourism. Environmental Affairs has now been integrated into the Department of Water Affairs as a new department that is now referred to as the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs. Tourism is now a standalone department, referred to as the Department of Tourism (DT); as such all leisure activities we engage in can be directly addressed when they lead to tourism recreation. The authors are confident that these cabinet changes do not affect the findings and recommendations proffered in this paper, and are optimistic that the relevant Departments could utilise the findings of this study accordingly.