Parliament Grills Tourism Department Over Budget, Jobs and Airbnb Regulation Delays

Glossy Ads, Slow Action: Lawmakers Demand Answers as South Africa’s R2.43 Billion Tourism Budget Comes Under Scrutiny

South Africa’s Department of Tourism found itself in the parliamentary hot seat this week as Members of Parliament debated its R2.43 billion budget allocation for the 2025/26 financial year. While the funding promises big plans — from boosting domestic travel to regulating short-term rentals — MPs questioned whether real-world outcomes are matching the glossy marketing.

Domestic Travel Campaigns Can’t Fix Policy Gaps

Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille pointed to the department’s marketing successes, saying the “South Africa Awaits – Come Find Your Joy” campaign helped grow website traffic by 35%, and seasonal campaigns like Sho’t Left drove up domestic travel by 9%.

But not everyone was impressed. DA MP Haseenabanu Ismail criticised the department for lacking measurable impact. “Marketing is important,” she said, “but without a clear return on investment or a strategic domestic tourism plan, it’s a shot in the dark. Glossy campaigns won’t rescue a crumbling sector.”

Policy Delays Hold up Transformation

The conversation quickly turned from ads to action — or the lack of it. MPs flagged legislative delays and missing policy reviews, including the long-awaited update to the Tourism Act. The sector is waiting on revised frameworks to address challenges around Airbnb-style rentals, BEE transformation, and outdated tourism laws.

While De Lille promised that the Tourism Amendment Bill — which will deal with short-term rentals and grading — is coming, she confirmed it won’t be tabled this year. That didn’t sit well with the IFP’s Nhlanhla Hadebe, who warned that platforms like Airbnb and Bolt continue to operate in a “regulatory vacuum” while small players in villages and townships struggle to compete.

Jobs Plan Falls Short by Thousands

Perhaps the most alarming revelation was the department’s underperformance in job creation. Parliament heard that the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) only created 66 jobs in the last quarter — a far cry from the 2 037 target. Committee chair Ronalda Nalumango warned that future EPWP opportunities are also being slashed, from a planned 18 000 to just 4 200.

Minister De Lille didn’t hold back in her response: “It’s an indictment that in a country where thousands are unemployed, this programme is not performing.”

MICE Events and Small Town Tourism

Despite the challenges, the department has set some ambitious targets for the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) sector. Plans include supporting over 100 international event bids, hosting more tourism expos like Africa’s Travel Indaba, and bringing 10 events to villages, townships and small towns — part of a push to decentralise tourism benefits.

If successful, these efforts could bring in an estimated R120 million in economic activity.

Public Funds, Private Questions

Oversight issues were a recurring theme. Parliament raised concerns about the sluggish rollout of the Tourism Equity Fund and Tourism Transformation Fund, and delays in infrastructure programmes meant to uplift rural communities.

De Lille promised stricter accountability going forward, with new contracts including a 60-day approval target and “consequence management” for delays. A Community Tourism Aftercare Programme is also in the works, aimed at helping community tourism projects stay afloat after handover.

What South Africans Are Saying

On social media, reaction to the budget debate was mixed. Some users praised De Lille’s transparency and community-focused approach, while others expressed frustration over the slow pace of real transformation.

“Another year of good intentions and poor execution,” one user posted on X. “People in the villages don’t need expos, they need working infrastructure and actual tourists.”

What’s Next?

South Africa’s tourism sector has huge potential — not just to attract visitors, but to create jobs and reshape communities. But if Parliament’s latest debate is anything to go by, flashy campaigns and high-level promises won’t be enough. The real question now is whether this R2.43 billion investment will finally start delivering tangible, trackable results for ordinary South Africans.

Source:Tourism Update 

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