announcements, tablings and committee reports - Parliament of ...

4870 [Tuesday, 29 October 2013changed in the second quarter of the year, when performancedipped to an index of 88.2, only to recover in the last two quarters ofthe year.The TBI is fairly optimistic about the prospects for 2013. In thisspecific edition, respondents were asked additional questions toassist in establishing the industry’s outlook for the year ahead.Respondents were asked to indicate their expected employmentlevels, capacity growth, which markets they believe had the mostpotential for growth in 2013 and the biggest constraints they haveidentified to doing business in 2013.On balance, the accommodation respondents to the survey expecta fairly similar overall annual performance at a -0,6 percent,however, this balance statistic has been improving steadily everyquarter from a low of -70,3 in Q3 2011. Other Tourism Businessesare on balance +37,6 percent positive about the outlook for theyear, which is significantly higher than in Q4 2012 and the highestever positive outlook recorded. A large number (41,5 percent) of therespondents believe that their businesses will perform better thannormal in the next year.Notwithstanding positive gains in 2012, the industry has cited thefollowing as specific constraints to doing business in 2013:• The accommodation and other Tourism Businessrespondents, cited as major threats to business in 2013, theglobal economic recession, the political uncertainty andlabour/community unrest in South Africa and the negativeperceptions this has created, profiling South Africa as anunsafe destination to foreign visitors.• Rising operational costs, especially municipal rates, fuel andelectricity prices.• The Accommodation Sector identified price wars within thesector as a major threat to the industry, with many operatorsundercutting rates. Competition from European destinationswith accommodation operators offering top standardaccommodation at very low rates was mentioned by some ofthe respondents.• Lack of direct air access of international flights to CapeTown was highlighted by many respondents as a challengefor 2013.• The other Tourism Businesses, especially the operators inthe transport industry, believe e-tolls to be a major constraintto business in 2013, increasing operational costs anddecreasing the disposable income of their customers.• Other constraints and threats mentioned by more than onerespondent include a lack of destination marketing by SouthAfrican Tourism and other Destination ManagementOrganisations (DMOs), a lack of municipal service delivery,labour strikes, increase in competitive establishments andANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS NO 147─2013