Hospitality industry urged to work towards building provincial economy

Back (L-R) - Jeremy Clayton, Richard Lyon, Ainsley Kistan, Faried Jones, Guy McDonald (Magic 828), Friedrich Schaefer, Carl van Rooyen. Front (L-R) - Rema Wiese, Dawn Smith, Ruth Kamau, Minister David Maynier, Jeff Rosenberg, Noli Mini, Shireen Onia. ©Phandulwazi Jikelo

The Fedhasa Cape AGM event aimed to address some of the many pressing topics currently affecting the tourism sector, reflecting on the past year and what Fedhasa Cape will be lobbying on behalf of the hospitality industry.

Rosenberg stated that the association will continue to lobby government on a number of issues – including short-term letting through the new the Tourism Amendment Bill, the easing of regulations around visas – and will advocate for transformation throughout the industry.

Mayoral Committee member for economic opportunities and asset management, Alderman James Vos, also addressed Fedhasa Cape members, urging collective action on issues affecting the tourism industry while listing actions planned by the City of Cape Town to support tourism. Vos’ portfolio includes the tourism function in Cape Town.

Driving sector demand

"We are committed to boost cultural experiences and help diversify Cape Town’s tourism offering to lead to more community involvement and an increase in economic benefits. The City’s objective is to facilitate sustainable job creation in a depressed economic climate, to help establish 'tourism-preneurs' while transforming the tourism landscape in Cape Town."

"My immediate priority is to work with the sector to drive demand that makes business sense and implement strategies that will bring about the ease of doing business and the ease of travel. Examples of this are cutting red tape while dealing with constraints to growth and increase airlift and connectivity while addressing affordability and geographic spread."

Western Cape MEC of finance and economic opportunities, David Maynier vowed to continue building a strong partnership with the hospitality industry in order to create a thriving economy in the province.

Although Minister Maynier stated that the provincial government intends to prioritise the tourism sector, he also referred to success stories such as the Air Access programme. "What Cape Town Air Access illustrates is what we can achieve when we put our heads together and we work together in the Western Cape. But there is, of course, a lot more work to be done unblocking the tourism and hospitality sector."

Elected board members responsible for directing key segments for the association in the Western and Northern Cape provinces include:

• Richard Lyon as chairperson of the hotel segment with Jeremy Clayton as the alternate;
• Faried Jones as chairperson of the trusted partners segment and Shireen Ellis as alternate; and
• Noli Mini as chairperson of the young professionals segment, with Ainsley Kirsten the alternate for this.