South African Membership to International Tourism Organizations

World Tourism Organization

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO/OMT), a specialized agency of the United Nations, is the leading international organization in the field of tourism. It serves as a global forum for tourism policy issues and practical source of tourism know-how.  The UNWTO's membership is comprised of 150 countries, seven territories and more than 300 Affiliate Members representing the private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations and local tourism authorities. The World Tourism Organization’s structure includes the following:

General Assembly is the principal gathering of the World Tourism Organization and meets every two years to approve the budget and programme of work and to debate topics of vital importance to the tourism sector.
Executive Council is UNWTO's governing board, responsible for ensuring that the Organization carries out its work and adheres to its budget and meets twice a year.
Regional Commissions which includes commissions in Africa, the Americas, East Asia and the Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and South Asia. The commissions meet at least once a year and are composed of all the Full Members and Associate Members from that region.
Committees of UNWTO Members advise on management and programme content which includes the Programme Committee, the Committee on Budget and Finance, the Committee on Statistics and Macroeconomic Analysis of Tourism, the Committee on Market Intelligence and Promotion, the Sustainable Development of Tourism Committee, the Quality Support and Trade Committee, the UNWTO Education Council, the UNWTO Business Council and the World Committee on Tourism Ethics.
Secretariat is responsible for implementing UNWTO's programme of work and serving the needs of Members.

The UNWTO’s Business Council
Airlines, hotel chains, tour operators, trade associations, consultants, promotion boards and educational institutions make up approximately 350 Members of the UNWTO Business Council (UNWTOBC).  UNWTOBC utilizes a partnership approach to tourism as a method to promote public and private integration and as a model of understanding between the two sectors. To achieve their objectives, UNWTOBC aids Members in expanding their tourism businesses through industry networking, forming contacts with the necessary government officials strengthening industry-education relationship, and conducting specialized research projects of the private sector.
The Council promotes integration between public and private sectors with themes that are of special interest to the business community which include:

• Public-Private Sector Cooperation
• Enhancing Tourism Competitiveness
• Marketing Tourism Destinations Online
• Strategies for the Information Age
  E-Business for Tourism
  Tourism Taxation
• Striking a Fair Deal
  Changes in Leisure Time

Africa Travel Association
The Africa Travel Association (ATA) is a non-profit, non-political travel industry trade association, which promotes tourism to the African continent and intra-Africa travel.  The organization was established in 1975 and its membership includes African Ministries of Tourism, Tourism Boards, airlines, hoteliers, travel agents, tour operators, media, public relations firms, NGOs, and other individuals actively engaged in the promotion of travel to the African continent.  The primary objective of the organization is to promote the tourist attractions of the African continent.  South Africa has launched provincial chapters of the organization in the Western Cape, KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng.

Indian Ocean Tourism Organization
The Indian Ocean Tourism Organisation (IOTO) is a regional tourism marketing body founded in June 1995. IOTO's vision is that every country around the Indian Ocean Rim will optimise its tourism potential in a sustainable manner to the benefit of all its people.  This is to be achieved through intra and inter-regional marketing, initiating activities that are strategic and of common interest and mutual benefit to stakeholders in the region. IOTO’s members include Australia, Bangladesh, Christmas Land, Cocos Island, Comoros, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Pakistan, Reunion, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sultanate of Oman, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, United ArabEmirates, United Kingdom and Yemen

The organization has the following as its priorities

• Positively positioning and marketing the Indian Ocean region as a unique tourism destination area.
• Facilitating co-operation and co-ordination among IOTO destinations and members.
• Promoting the expansion of appropriate transportation services and facilities to and within the Indian Ocean Region.
• Liasing on behalf of its members with government and authorities towards reducing barriers to travel.
• Encouraging improved service standards and equality of the visitor experience throughout the destination area.
• Encouraging all members to support sound environmental tourism practices for long term benefit of their communities.
• Facilitating information, dissemination and skills interchange throughout the Region.

Regional Tourism Organization of Southern Africa
The Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa, RETOSA, is a regional tourism cooperation organization intended to develop the combined tourism interests of its 14 member states well into the next century.  Its mandate is to market and promote the Region in close cooperation with the Region's national tourist organisations and the private sector. The organisation, as the official SADC (Southern African Development Community) tourism body, the full spread of stakeholder interests in the Region - public and private sectors, and community - into one focused organisation   The organisation’s key objectives are:

• To increase the volume of business to the Region.
• To motivate broader intra-regional product programming in the target markets.
• To increase the awareness of the travel trade in source markets of the Region's multifaceted products.
• To increase consumer awareness and motivation in Southern Africa of the benefits of leisure travel in the Region.
• To develop and sustain a mutually beneficial relationship with suppliers in the Region's markets.
• To identify and develop market niches for the region.
• To identify additional funding sources for the organisation's marketing and promotional programmes.

 South African Tourism Landscape

Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism has as its role to fulfill the national government's role towards creating the conditions for responsible tourism growth and development by promoting and developing tourism, thereby increasing job and entrepreneurial opportunities and encouraging the meaningful participation of previously disadvantaged individuals. The focus will be on facilitating the growth of the tourism industry by providing support to the public and private sectors, and the broader community.   The DEAT’s Tourism division comprises of units dealing with:

• Tourism Development and Research which supports the transformation of the tourism industry, particularly in respect of providing opportunities for black business participation in the industry; facilitating the implementation of tourism investment programmes that supports the development of South Africa as a leading international tourism destination and undertakes focused research towards promoting tourism development and transformation.
  • Tourism Research which facilitates a co-ordinated approach to tourism research, provides regular and accurate statistics to industry and government for qualitative decision-making.
  • Tourism Business Development which facilitates the transformation of the tourism industry and the sustainable development of black tourism businesses; it promotes public and private sector investments into the SDIs.
  • Quality Assurance which manages the quality of the hospitality sector and promotes awareness of tourism
• Tourism Support which ensures the management of the tourist guide registration process, promotion and awareness of tourism, human resources development and quality assurance in the tourism sector.
  • International Liaison with the aim of promoting tourism services internationally, Service and management of tourism bilateral, trilateral and multilateral agreements and coordination and implementation of NEPAD and SADC tourism related projects.
  •  Tourism Human Resource Development with the task of acting as a National registrar for the tourists guides sector and as an appeal office on matters negatively in the tourist-guiding sector, facilitates capacity building in the to tourism industry and monitor the implantation of skills development program, manages the formulation of regulations and policies in compliance with legislations that impact on tourism industry and its transformation and liaise with all government institutions/ agencies set for tourism industry development
  • Tourism Intergovernmental Liaison interacts with the three spheres of Government, and liaise with intergovernmental organizations with the aim of promoting tourism growth

Department of Trade and Industry
The Department of Trade and Industry aims to ensure that South Africa has a vibrant economy, characterised by growth, employment and equity, built on the full potential of all citizens. The Department provides leadership to the South African economy through its understanding of the economy, its knowledge of economic opportunities and potential, and its contribution to ASGISA.   It acts as a catalyst for the transformation and development of the economy and responds to the challenges and opportunities of the economic citizens, in order to support the government's economic goals of growth, employment and equity. It also aims at providing a predictable, competitive, equitable and socially responsible environment for investment, enterprise and trade.

Trade and Investment South Africa, is a division of the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) which provides strategic vision and direction to key growth sectors, which includes the tourism sector, in the economy.  It also aims to increase the level of direct investment flow, and develop South Africa's capacity to export into various targeted markets.  Trade and Investment South Africa contribute to the realization of the dti's strategic objectives by:

• Providing an efficient and effective investment facilitation service for local and foreign investors
• Identifying, packaging and promoting investment opportunities
• Identifying, researching and promoting market access opportunities for South African exporters
• Identifying, researching and promoting market access opportunities for South African exporters
• Facilitating exports by matching potential exporters with foreign buyers
• Developing South African exporters through the provision of financial and non-financial support
• Leading the development and implementation of customised sector programmes in the dti's priority sectors

Through the Industrial Development Corporation, the DTI finances either new or existing tourism businesses throughout Africa in addition to supplying equity finance for BEE partners wishing to purchase shareholding in viable tourism businesses.

South African Tourism
South African Tourism is a national tourism agency responsible for the international marketing of South Africa as a preferred tourist destination.  Its aim is to make tourism the leading economic sector in South Africa, and to promote sustainable economic and social empowerment of all South Africans. At the same time South Africa is marketed as an integral part of Africa and particularly the subcontinent of southern Africa. 

South African Tourism, a statutory body, whose functions extends beyond tourism promotion and marketing, and encompass product development and other functions, such as playing a strong leadership, facilitating and coordinating roles in the tourism development thrust of South Africa.  The roles and responsibilities of South Africa Tourism, spelt out in the Tourism White Paper are as follows:

• Policy support – To achieve this SAT assists the Ministry and Department in formulating a national policy and strategy to achieve a national tourism vision which spreads tourism benefits to stakeholders.  It is expected to advise national government on all national matters concerning tourism, which could affect the achievement of the tourism vision.  The Ministry and Department with SAT coordinate and implement a national tourism strategy by formulating clear and measurable objectives.  It also serve as a strategic think-tank for stakeholders.
• Marketing – SAT’s responsibility is to establish South Africa as a prime global tourist destination; market South Africa internationally and generically; manage an international network of tourism marketing and promotion offices; develop and implement an international marketing strategy in cooperation with national and provincial tourism councils/organisations; assist the provinces in their domestic marketing efforts, in accordance with national priorities and strategies; assist the provincial and local tourism marketing agencies to achieve their objectives within the national tourist strategy; promote a quality experience for all international tourists; initiate the packaging of products; identify new and emerging products and markets.
• Research and market intelligence - carry out necessary research to support the development and growth of the South African tourism industry; execute research that will support tourism activities which are to the advantage of the national economic base, including forecasting and targeting; facilitate the growth of the domestic market through community education programmes relating to tourism and information concerning the development of SMME tourism businesses; satisfy information needs of the Minister, the Department, other government bodies, NGOs, the corporate and business sector as well as the media and the public; cooperate with provincial tourism organisations on research matters; advise central government on strategic research priorities concerning tourism; ensure the effective distribution of relevant information to all stakeholders and to the provinces in particular.
• Standards - ensure the setting and maintenance of appropriate standards to facilitate positioning of the South African tourism industry in the international tourism arena.
• Development promotion - promote the tourism vision in coordination and cooperation with all stakeholders; advise all stakeholders on product development opportunities which are in accordance with market needs; promote the conservation and development of the country's unique natural and socio-cultural environments; encourage the provision and improvement of tourist amenities and facilities throughout South Africa; support the Ministry and the Department in the creation of a tourism culture within South Africa; coordinate the packaging of products by provinces, which are in accordance with the international marketing thrust and themes;

THETA
Theta, the Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Education and Training Authority, is the Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) established under the Skills Development Act (No 97 of 1998) [the Skills Act] for the Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Economic Sector.   A SETA's main function is to contribute to the raising of skills - to bring skills to the employed, or those wanting to be employed, in their sector.  In order to ensure appropriate skills are developed for the sector THETA has to develop a sector skills plan, implement this plan, implement quality assurance, disburse levies collected by employers in the sector and report to the Minister of Labour and the South African Qualifications Authority.

Tourism Grading Council of South Africa
The Tourism Grading Council of South Africa was established in September 2000 by the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and mandated to provide a framework and process for grading across all relevant sectors of the tourism industry in South Africa. The TGCSA ensures that a standard of quality is achieved across all the services and facilities offered by the South African tourism industry.  The TGCSA is able to achieve this goal through the willing participation of the many establishments who choose to continuously improve and update the services they offer their customers. To ensure credibility and independence in measuring this grading system, a consumer feedback mechanism monitors the customer’s expectations.  The Tourism Grading Council is aiming towards a scenario where all tourism industry providers in South Africa are willing and committed to a partnership. It is envisaged that this commitment would bring about the highest levels of quality assurance, the best possible value for money and the recognition that customer expectations are paramount.

• Non-Governmental Organisations
  Tourism Enterprise Programme (TEP)
  TEP facilitates the growth and development of SMMEs in the Tourism Economy, resulting in income generating opportunities and job creation. The programme is a public-private partnership between the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and the Business Trust and is implemented by Imbumba Tourism Services. 
  • TEP helps SMMEs to identify business opportunities in the tourism value chain and to equip themselves to take advantage of these opportunities through capacity building initiatives. This process ensures the successful conclusion of transactions, which in turn leads to revenue growth for the SMME and in time this leads to the sustainable creation of jobs.
  • TEP’s services consist of Non Financial or Indirect Technical Assistance, and Financial or Direct Technical Assistance, which is explained as follows:
  • Non Financial or Indirect Technical Assistance
    TEP’s first and foremost service is helping Tourism SMME’s identify viable business opportunities or business linkages. Once this is achieved, TEP mobilises its resources to make this opportunity a reality.
    This assistance includes:
    - Introductions - matching buyers and suppliers of goods and services
    - Information sharing through various “How To” Toolkits
    - Training specifically aimed at tourism SMMEs
    - HIV/AIDS Interventions – focusing on the economic impact of HIV/AIDS on business through educational workshops
    - Mentoring/Aftercare - ensuring that SMMEs have the necessary capacity to successfully conclude more and better business transactions
    - Transformation - focusing on ownership, enterprise development and preferential procurement
    - Strategic Initiatives – including national events and sector strategies aimed at maximising growth opportunities for SMMEs
  • Financial or Direct Technical Assistance:
    Many of the solutions required to overcome the constraints typically faced by SMMEs are provided through independent fee charging service providers. Although TEP is not a funding agency, it has a Training and Technical Assistance Fund (TTAF), which can be used to contribute to the cost of any approved assistance on a cost-sharing basis. Depending on the circumstances, the client contribution must at least equal the TEP contribution.
    Types of service TEP offers include (but are not limited to):
    - Professional Services Assistance:
    Business Plans, Feasibility Studies, Marketing Strategies, Research, Assistance with Securing Investments, etc.
    - Operational Assistance:
    Accounting, Legal, Tendering, Certification, Licensing, etc.
    - Marketing Assistance:
    Exhibitions, Brochures, Websites, Advertising, Memberships, etc.
    - Training:
    Assistance with attending approved tourism related training courses
    - Business Development Services:
    Assistance with improving the quality of services provided, by independent fee charging service providers, in the SMMEs market.
      
    During the first six years TEP assisted more than 3400 SMMEs to grow their revenues by more than R2,3 billion collectively, creating more than 32 200 jobs in the process. TEP’s target for the next four years, ending June 2010, are to facilitate R1,8 billion in transactions, assist more than 2000 tourism SMMEs resulting in a further 28 500 jobs created.
     
    Contact Details:
    Tel  : 011 804 5750
    Fax  : 011 802 8448
    E-Mail  : info@tep.co.za
    Web Address : www.tep.co.za
• Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa
  Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA) was initiated by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) as a project in 2001 and has since become and independent organization.  The organization encourages and publicises fair and responsible business practice by South African tourism establishments and does this through the FTTSA Trademark.  The FTTSA Trademark is an independent symbol of fairness in the tourism industry and is awarded to tourism establishments that meet stringent criteria, such as fair wages and working conditions, fair operations, purchasing and distribution of benefits, ethical business practice and respect for human rights, culture and the environment.  Tourism businesses are evaluated by applying the following principles:
  • FAIR SHARE:
    All participants involved in a tourism activity should get their fair share of the income, in direct proportion to their contribution to the activity.
  • DEMOCRACY:
    All participants involved in a tourism activity should have the right and opportunity to participate in decisions that concern them.
  • RESPECT: Both host and visitor should have respect for human rights, culture and environment. This includes:
    o Safe working conditions and practices
    o Protection of young workers
    o Promoting gender equality
    o Understanding and tolerance of socio-cultural norms
    o Conservation of the environment
    o HIV / AIDS awareness
  • RELIABILITY: The services delivered to tourists should be reliable and consistent. Basic safety and security should also be ensured by host and visitor.
  • TRANSPARENCY: Tourism businesses should establish mechanisms of accountability. This includes:
    o Ownership of tourism businesses must be clearly defined
    o Employees and other participants should be able to access information that concerns them
    o Sharing of profits, benefits and losses must be transparent
  • SUSTAINABILITY: The tourism businesses should strive to be sustainable. This includes:
    o Increased knowledge through capacity building
    o Improved use of available resources through networking and partnerships
    o Economic viability through responsible use of resources
    o Reduction of leakage through local purchasing and employment
    o Support to historically disadvantaged entrepreneurs 
     

Tourism Business Council of South Africa
The Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) is the voice of the business sector involved in tourism industry and was established in February 1996 by leading tourism businesses. Its primary purpose is to engage with all stakeholders in developing macro strategies that create an enabling environment for tourism development. The TBCSA works in partnership with trade associations and are members of the TBCSA.

The Council represents the business sector of the tourism industry by ensuring a comprehensive, united and effective representation at national level; the appropriate macro strategies are adopted. These strategies require the development and maintenance of an environment in which international and local tourism will prosper, as a national priority, and in which the business sector will be able to achieve successful growth and development, while ensuring the protection of our natural and cultural heritage

The partnership between government and the private sector is represented by the TBCSA to ensure joint responsibility for South Africa's tourism policy, its strategic direction and its implementation. This commitment is embodied in the TBCSA's representation on a number of bodies established by the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and other ministries.
These include:
• South African Tourism
• Tourism, Hospitality, Education and Sports Training Authority (THETA)
• The Tourism Grading Council
• The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism's Advisory Committee on Research and Information
• The National Department of
• Transport's Aviation Policy Review panel
• South African National Parks
• United Nations World Tourism (Affiliate)
• The Executive Committee of the Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa (RETOSA)

TBCSA and its partners have contributed to implementing a number of strategies that have resulted in the increase of the number of visitors to South Africa. These include:
• Airline access to the country
• Contribution to the international marketing budget
• Standards and quality service
• Tourism enterprise support

Business Associations
• GHASA
The Guest House Association of Southern Africa represents a group of over 200 owners of unique and quality accommodation establishments throughout South Africa. Only those establishments that comply with the Association's high standards and principals are accepted as members. GHASA was established in 1992 when a group of establishment owners got together to promote the guest house industry.

• BABASA
"BABASA" The Bed and Breakfast Association of South Africa was founded in October 1997, launched on the 27th of February 1998 and registered as a Section 21 non-profit Company on the 29th of April 1998. BABASA is a voluntary association of owners and/or managers of SMME accommodation venues.  Representing Bed & Breakfast, Guest Houses, Manor Houses, Country Houses, Guest Farms and Lodges, Private Game  Farms / Reserves, Self-Catering, Township Stays & Cultural Stays and Hotels.

• FGASA
FGASA sets standards for Field Guides throughout Southern Africa in the form of a training syllabus, very strict code of ethics, and an assessment system for Field Guides.

• FEDHASA
The Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa, (FEDHASA) a member driven organisation, is registered as a section 21 Company, (Registration No. 05/34000/08) and functions both as a Trade Association and an Employers' Association. In its role as a Trade Association, FEDHASA represents member interests on most recognised public and private sector economic, business and environmental forums.  Close ties with organizations such as South African Tourism, the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, the Department of Environmental Affairs, the Department of Forestry & Water Affairs and many others, ensure member participation and input at the highest possible levels.

• ASATA
ASATA is a non-profit association that has represented the interests of the South African travel agents for 50 years. Over 500 travel agents and tour operators are members of ASATA. These members are bound by ASATA’s constitution and code of conduct, which promotes integrity and security in dealing with an ASATA travel agent or tour operator. ASATA also has nearly 200 Travel Partners, including airlines, hotels and car rental companies as members.

• SATSA
The Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA) is the member driven association representing the private sector of the incoming tourism industry in Southern Africa. SATSA is a non-profit association, dedicated to providing and maintaining the highest possible standards in the tourism industry within South Africa.SATSA represents the key players and principles within the industry including:
• Transport providers
• Tour operators or Destination Management Companies
• Accommodation suppliers
• Brokers
• Adventure Tourism providers
• Business Tourism providers
• Tourism services providers

• SAVRALA
Founded in the 1970s, the Southern African Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (SAVRALA) is a trade association representing Southern Africa's combined vehicle rental, leasing and fleet management industries. It has a combined membership base of some 60 companies inclusive of a number of associate members comprising motor manufacturers and allied industry sales and service companies.

• BARSA
The Board of Airline Representatives of South Africa (BARSA) – one of many BARs throughout the world – has benchmarked itself against the representative bodies in United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. BARSA operates as a business association to facilitate, promote, represent and protect the commercial and professional interests of its members within the Republic of South Africa.

• Backpackers South Africa
BTSA (Backpacker Tourism South Africa) now Backpacking South Africa(BSA) was formed in 1998 as a non-profit organization. It was established as a trust organisation which demands good corporate governance. The expressed purpose is ensuring that tourists who visit the country as backpackers or independent travellers, can be assured that there is a local organisation, that is interested in making their stay the most enjoyable in the world.

• SABOA/COSA
SABOA is a trade association representing the interests of bus operators in South Africa. Luxury long distance intercity and tour bus operators are represented by the Coach Operators Association of Southern Africa (COASA), who in turn is affiliated to SABOA. A number of other associations are also affiliated to SABOA.

• RASA
RASA is a non-profit organisation that was formed to act in the interest of the South African Restaurateurs and to ensure that there was a lobby and a voice to speak on his/her behalf.

• SAACI
The Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI) is dedicated to maintaining and improving the standards of efficiency and professionalism for the conference industry in Southern Africa. SAACI comprising over 600 members from a variety of sectors within the Conference Industry, including conference venues, professional conference organisers and a large variety of services such as Audio Visual, Entertainment, Decor, Catering and many more.

• TOMSA
TOMSA (Tourism Marketing South Africa) is the name of a trust account set up originally by the TBCSA (Tourism Business Council of South Africa), to raise funds for the generic marketing of South Africa internationally. The funds are collected through a consumer levy on tourism products in South Africa.  TOMSA was created by tourism industry business sector, which was committed to play an active role to assist government in increasing the money available. A voluntary levy system was canvassed and agreed upon and became effective from April 1999 as a basis for a sustainable public-private partnership.  TOMSA has been incorporated as an association in terms of Section 21 of the Companies Act, 1973, and therefore is a legal entity.