Relief for Tour Operators as Minister Patricia de Lille Welcomes Ruling

Tour operators in South Africa can now breathe a sigh of relief with the resolution of issues that plagued their businesses. Minister Patricia de Lille’s announcement, following in-depth engagements with the private sector and the Departments of Transport and Tourism, indicated that law enforcement would cease unduly penalizing tour operators awaiting their renewed licenses. This decision is set to considerably reduce red tape and create a more conducive environment for the growth of the tourism industry.

Backlog of License Applications

The National Department of Transport (NDT), through its National Public Transport Regulator Committee (NPTR), oversees the issuance and renewal of tour operator licenses. However, a backlog of license applications resulted in detrimental consequences for tour operators nationwide. To tackle this issue, the Department of Tourism engaged with the Department of Transport last year, resulting in a meeting between Minister de Lille and Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga in May 2023.

Agreement Reached

The collaborative efforts between the Departments of Transport and Tourism led to an agreement that the Minister of Transport would send a letter to all MECs for Transport, calling for law enforcement officers to stop penalizing tour operators still awaiting their renewed licenses. Consequently, the Department of Transport cleared the backlog of 1,432 applications for tour operating licenses last year.

Despite approving 1,174 applications, only 636 licenses were uplifted by tour operators. To address this issue and improve relations between the industry and the NPTR, the Department of Transport organized workshops with the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) in key provinces such as Gauteng, Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal. These workshops provided a platform for operators to engage directly with the NPTR and resolve their licensing issues.

Decision Reached

The recent MINMEC meeting between the Ministry of Transport and Transport MECs led to a decision urging law enforcement officers to correctly interpret Regulation 25(2) of the National Land Transport Regulations. This would prevent the unnecessary impounding of vehicles whose operators had rightfully applied for renewals. The Department of Transport recognizes the vital role of tourism in South Africa’s economy and is committed to enhancing its collaboration with the NPTR, industry, and sector departments.

Clarification for Operators

In June, Minister Chikunga sent a letter to all MECs, allowing tour operators who had applied for license renewals 30 days before the expiry of their license and had not yet received a notice to uplift to continue operating. They can do so by carrying a copy of their expired license and proof of their application for license renewal until their new license is issued. The letter also clarifies that operators complying with the regulation should not be penalized.

Resolution of Issues

The resolution of these issues stemmed from challenges in processing license applications, collecting license renewals, and inconsistencies in the interpretation of NLTA Regulation 25(2) by law enforcement officers. These inconsistencies led to the impoundment of tourism vehicles whose owners or operators had properly applied for operating license renewals.

The written resolution sent to all MECs is a significant relief for tour operators who have applied for license renewals and are waiting for their renewed licenses to be issued by the Department of Transport. The penalizing and impounding of tour operator vehicles had severely impacted the industry. The collective efforts of the government, the private sector, the TBCSA, and the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA) have led to the resolution of this matter. The Department of Tourism will continue to work with the Department of Transport and all stakeholders to minimize red tape and create a more accessible business environment for the tourism sector, enabling it to contribute even more to South Africa’s economy.