Tourism association calls on Ramaphosa to intervene in sector's 'red tape'
The South African Tourism Services Association is calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to urgently intervene to remove what it says is the red tape strangling the sector.
It says there are delays in the issuing of operating licenses for tourist vehicles, which the National Public Transport Regulator is responsible for.
CEO David Frost says the process is a nightmare for tour operators.
"Law says that this has to happen within 60 days for new operators and within a day if you already are an accredited operator. So this it not happening and indeed has not happened for years.
"The result is hundreds of new and existing operators are unable to work or are being forced to do so illegally."
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"Tour operators with vehicles full of tourists are regularly pulled over by police and traffic officials and who fine them and impound their vehicles, sometimes leaving tourists stranded on the side of the road."
South Africa Tourism Services Association board member Onne Vegte, who owns a business in the sector, says he's had first-hand experience of the inefficiencies.
"I bought new vehicles in 2019 and applied for operating licences immediately. I am fully accredited. I still have not received my operating licences today. It's three years now."
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