Tour operators blast 'useless' Pitsos

| Tuesday December 10, 2013 15:53

 

The report stated that industry players are expected to attend lots of workshops and meetings, but rarely do they have their issues resolved. “We as an industry want to grow, which is normal practice in business, and our minister and government expect this as well,” said David Kays, HATAB Camps and Lodges sector representative. He stated that HATAB represents many companies, which expect to get answers for it and resolution of problems facing the sector. “This year, many of us attended another Tourism Pitso, and we had hoped that with our newly appointed minister, we would have had answers to the long outstanding concerns that we raise every year at the Pitsos,” he said.

Kays said they had hoped that the new minister would resolve their problems but this has not happened. “We were advised to hold mini Pitso’s with officials that could clarify and resolve these issues,” he said. He also said  government officials  usually do not attend these  Pitsos while the industry issues remain resolved.

Kays said industry players cannot attend every Pitso, for every ministry. “We request that we have a Tourism Pitso in 2014 that will have all ministries that have been sent catalogues of issues to come and give answers,” he said. HATAB officials had requested the pitso for their year-end function in the hope that there will be some clarity and answers. Unfortunately the minister and permanent secretary did not attend the event.

HATAB says what the industry needs as a matter of priority is a one-stop shop that it had long asked for. The shop will enable industry players to get services in one place instead of going to different departments and ministries. 

Meanwhile industry players were happy to get answers from the minister of Transport and Communication, Nonofo Molefhi who listened to their problems and promised action. Businesspeople in the industry sector have complained that Molefhi’s ministry is giving them problems in getting renewals for special PRDP’s and P-Permits, the age limit for getting a PRDP, and renewals of P-Permits and road worthiness certificate.