South Africa is currently examining the possibility of establishing a specialized police unit designed to proactively address safety concerns and promptly resolve incidents involving tourists, as detailed in the Department of Tourism’s Green Paper, which has been published for public review and comment.
The Green Paper highlights that crimes against tourists significantly impact South Africa’s attractiveness as a travel destination for both international and domestic tourists.
It emphasises the need for a research-based tourism safety response program and an investigation into the creation of a dedicated police unit capable of focusing on preventive measures and expeditious resolution of tourist-related incidents.
The 2018/2019 State of Tourism report revealed that tourism contributed a total of R354.9 billion to South Africa’s GDP, with a direct contribution of R130 billion in 2018. These figures underscore the vital role tourism plays in driving economic growth and development in South Africa.
However, despite these achievements, the tourism sector in South Africa has not fully harnessed its potential.
The Economic Survey of South Africa, conducted in collaboration with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, reached a similar conclusion, citing various factors contributing to the sector’s underperformance. These factors include negative safety perceptions, entry barriers, inadequate crisis management, outdated policies, and limited transformation efforts.
To address concerns related to tourist safety, some other countries have established specialized tourist police units (such as the Dominican Republic, Kenya, Ghana, Malaysia, and Egypt) and implemented victim support programs (as seen in Ireland, Gauteng, and the Western Cape in South Africa). Additionally, coordination efforts involving tourism-focused police planning, cooperation with tourist facility owners, and preventive programs (exemplified by Slovenia) have been effective in enhancing tourist safety.
The Green Paper highlights that a collaborative effort between the South African Police Service and the tourism sector has led to the development of a tourism safety strategy. This strategy includes patrols in tourist hotspots, provision of key information to tourists, and reporting of incidents to law enforcement agencies specializing in safeguarding crucial tourist sites.
Furthermore, the recruitment and training of 200 young individuals as monitors signify ongoing efforts to improve the safety of tourists in South Africa.
