Government’s R175 million plan to protect tourists ahead of the festive season

The Department of Tourism has spent R174.5 million in deploying 2,305 Tourism Monitors at key tourist attractions across South Africa to “supplement safety and security measures by the South African Police Service” (SAPS) ahead of the peak summer holiday period.

“South Africa is a popular destination to local and international travellers; however, crime is an unfortunate reality that has affected tourists.” said the department in a statement released on Tuesday, December 12th.

These monitors will be stationed at key entry points, national parks, and other tourist attractions throughout the country to provide assistance with tourism and “safety-related” matters, enhancing tourism safety awareness, upskilling unemployed youth and reducing tourist vulnerabilities.

The duties of these monitors include:

• Patrolling identified attractions and sites/areas,

• Raise tourism awareness and provide information to tourists about attractions and the country,

• Report any crime incidents to SAPS and other relevant enforcement agencies,

• Assist in tourist victim support.

The Department of Tourism has been working with the SAPS through joint safety learning, awareness and development campaigns, vetting tourism monitors, having SAPS develop a unique coding system for crimes against tourists and creating a safety programme for the monitors.

“While it is the mandate of the police to provide safety and security services, the Department of Tourism, all three spheres of government and the private sector have come together to do our part with additional measures to enhance tourist safety.

The number of monitors have been allocated as follows:

• Eastern Cape – 150

• Free State – 150

• Western Cape – 250

• Gauteng -100

• Limpopo -100

• KwaZulu Natal – 200

• Mpumalanga – 220

• North West – 100

• Northern Cape -70

• iSimangaliso Wetland Park – 200

• Ezemvelo Nature Reserve – 150

• SANBI Gardens – 130

• ACSA Airports – 135

• SANParks – 350

Part of the National Tourism Safety Strategy, the department said that this initiative was developed by “all three spheres of government, the South African Police Service, the National Prosecuting Authority and the private sector as represented by the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) as well as local and provincial tourism authorities and agencies.”

source:Government’s R175 million plan to protect tourists ahead of the festive season – BusinessTech