Gauteng levy looms closer

MARCH 1 remains the date set for the commencement of the Gauteng Tourism Agency's (GTA) registration and tourism levy scheme as legislated under the Gauteng Tourism Act, despite the fact that Minister of Tourism & Environmental Affairs, Mohammed Valli Moosa, repeatedly said last year that he would not allow any provincial legislation to stand in the way of a national tourism levy. Sylvan Golden, chief executive officer of the GTA, said that the regulations governing the Act have still to be written and passed into legislation but that this is well under way and all is well on track for March 1. He also added that a list of board members to serve the new Gauteng Tourism Authority had been gazetted last week and that the 12-person board would be selected by January 20. "There's not a lot left to do now for the initial launch, but there is a huge amount of administration to face during the first 12 months, with registration and licensing of tourism service providers being the priority. We'll be casting our net as widely as possible." The second year, said Golden, would see the GTA pursuing the enhancing of quality with the provision of benchmarks and the instituting of a grading and classification system. In response to the road being taken by the Minister in aggressively pursuing an early resolution to the issue of the imposition of a new national tourism tax or levy, Golden said he realises that the Ministry is working to a very tight deadline in this regard. He fully expects something to be announced in the government's Budget speech on February 23. "It's very clear that the government will come up with a funding mechanism that will in turn support the funding for provincial tourism authorities in the way that they want. If this is the case, then I am sure that our MEC for Finance and Economic Affairs, Jabu Moleketi, will reconsider the Gauteng position." However, whatever transpires in this regard, the GTA will continue its registration process and go ahead with its grading and classification scheme. "Under new legislation currently making its way through Parliament, the registration of tour guides will also fall to the provinces, so we will be busy complying with that as well," added Golden. In order to cope with the extra workload, the GTA plans to increase its existing staff by an extra 10 people. (Elizabeth Sheridan)