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Mr Chairperson, ladies and gentlemen, when I first glanced at the topic I had to address you on, I could not avoid noticing the traces of anomalies of the past administrations whereby citizens were disenfranchised from participating in the day to day business of their own country on the basis of colour. The result has been the dichotomy and ethnocentrism of perceiving issues in terms of Black and White.

To us South Africans, the world existed in two colours which I have mentioned, and so is business. We are still decades backwards from being in a position to conceptualise matters in the context of national interest as South Africans. It is not my intention to make an issue out of this and contrary to what may be perceived, I am only recognising the realities of the past. The irony of the case ladies and gentlemen, is that the environment has always been purported to be colour blind.

The environment is fundamental to our existence on earth. It is the primary resource base, and should never at any point be seen as having to compete with the other users of resources. Our lives, our health as well as our well-being is dependent on the environment. If we all understand this one truth, there will be hope for sustainable use of resources now and in the future. If not, a steady erosion of the physical environment can be expected and of course, an ultimate disaster for mankind.

One of the problems facing our country is to convince the broader community that our total economic livelihood depends on our natural resource base. People still have a very narrow concept of environmental conservation as being the preservation of species.

They struggle to see a link between the environment and basic needs. While this could be blamed on the legacy of the past, there is some reluctance on the part of other citizens to catch up with the present.

Ladies and gentlemen, the government is committed to ensuring that society participates in decision making processes regarding the environment. The consultative process towards formulating a new environmental policy for South Africa is now taking place in the provinces. This provincial process kicked off in the later part of April this year. Although some provinces had problems setting up their multi-stakeholder steering committees, I am proud to report that all nine provinces are now well ahead with the process.

As the chairperson of the CONNEPP Management and Advisory Team (MAT) , I want to take this opportunity and thank all my colleagues, and all the people who brought this process to where it is today. You have shown your openness towards the transformation process.
But, as you may know the process is not yet complete I therefore, request you to take the process to the end.

The policy document on tourism will be launched at the Union Buildings in Pretoria tomorrow,
26 June 1996. This is a document that has painstakingly been compiled through the prescribed and desired process of consultation. The end results are that we can all be proud, as I am, of what was achieved in the form of a White Paper on Tourism for South Africa. This is a document that has sought to recognise the discrepancies, inadequacies and injustices of the past against the disadvantaged communities within the tourism business, and therefore seeks to redress them.

It is a document that has also taken cognisance of the principles espoused by the Reconstruction and Development Program and the need to deliberately empower the disadvantaged group.

Some of the points listed by this policy document which have to be addressed in order to normalise the situation are matters relating to:
- the perceptions that tourism is a white man's thing
- the inequalities and abuse of power which have led to the exploitation of local cultures, thereby leading to the corruption of value systems within the communities
- the past exclusion of affected communities from participation in the planning and decision-making processes that affected their environment and their daily lives
- creating access to educational and training institutions in order to enable capacity building and a meaningful participation within the tourism industry by the majority of our people
- facilitating access to finances and financial institutions for our aspiring entrepreneurs

These and other factors not mentioned here are matters that the government will seek to address in due course, and for which my department will provide guidelines to possible solutions.

The tourism industry is one of the most revered types of industries for well known reasons. In the recent statistics presented by the World Travel and Tourism Council, it is given that 255 million jobs have been created world wide by this industry in the current year of 1996. The Council further projects that these jobs will increase to 385 million by the year 2006, attaining a real growth of 50.1% . The Council goes further to indicate that tourism investments alone during this 1996 fiscal year amount to US $766 billions, and are expected to increase to US $1,6 trillion by the year 2006.

Mr Chairperson, if these projections are correct, we as South Africans need to ensure that we get our share of the pie. It is true that the South African tourism industry has a potential to offer towards contributing to the economic growth of our country. In 1995, South Africa received 4.48 million international visitors. Domestic tourism is also playing an important role in the South African tourism industry. This market will continue to grow as previously neglected people are encouraged to become tourists and travellers themselves. The potential for South Africa to increase both arrivals and expenditures from all three markets- overseas, regional and domestic is substantial.

The 1994 peaceful political transformation of our country also contributed to the growing interests by foreign investors. I am impressed that this forum show a concern and do seek to know how to play a meaningful role in the domestic tourism of our country. On numerous occasions it is mentioned that only through constructive partnership between the government and the business fraternity will success be attained.

There are no easy and prescriptive solutions to some of the problems and concerns facing the Black Business Fraternity. Some of these concerns emanate from the historical perspectives of this country, and only time will eradicate the deep-rooted mutual suspicions and mistrusts. It is however important to realise that only through co-operation, dedication and mutual understanding shall we make things happen.

The international community wants to speak to all South African business people, and not necessarily the "Black Business" people only. Here at home, the government needs all the resources, skills and creativity available to make things happen. Hence the particular attention that the government is paying towards creating a conducive environment for the development and growth of the Small, Medium and Macro Enterprises.

The government is also aware of the barriers which are created by the big monopolies and big business to market entries within the tourism industry. Whilst government will do its utmost to redress some of the artificially imposed constraints, I want to urge the emerging entrepreneurs to organise themselves into consortiums. This will ensure that the fight is taken to the opponent's corner.

It is very unfortunate, ladies and gentlemen that there is lately so much negative media coverage about the escalating crime and violence in the country. These reports circulate internationally and are read by people who would be potential tourists to our country. I want to urge that the Business Fraternity, particularly at grassroots level, assist the authorities in stamping out this evil. These are matters that may seem distant from you as business people, if you so wish to conclude. But, they invariable have a negative effect on our economy and particularly on tourism.

During the years it has been found that Environmental Management can only work if it is built on a foundation of partnership between business and the communities in which it operates. No environmental system, however sophisticated, can survive in any other way. The same goes for the tourism industry. Communities are also expected to play a role in the development and promotion of the tourism industry. Many communities and the previously neglected groups, particularly those in rural areas poses significant tourism resources and they need to be drawn in, so as to contribute meaningfully to the tourism industry.

Mr Chairperson, unless there is commitment on the part of government and all major stakeholders, to ensure the promotion and development of the tourism industry in South Africa the will be a shrinking market with the result that the multiplier effect will greatly be reduced.

Should this happen, the consequences will be too ghastly to contemplate and South Africa will have no choice but bid any prosperity goodbye.

Thank you

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