Cape Town — Tourism Minister Tokozile Xasa says the estimated R10bn that organs of state spend annually on travel and related services could be an important lever for radical economic transformation. Other mechanisms that could be used are government controls over the licensing of tour operators, gaming operations (including casinos), duty-free stores, car rental parking bays at strategic hubs, accommodation and retail facilities at state-owned facilities. Xasa made the remarks in her maiden budget vote speech in the National Assembly on Tuesday. She said such levers could be used to accelerate radical economic transformation and the Department of Tourism would be working with partner departments in pursuit of this goal. "A targeted approach to positioning black enterprises in South African Tourism marketing efforts is a critical part of fulfilment of that mandate," the minister said. Black entrepreneurs would be targeted as the leaders in growing new markets in Asia and the Middle ...

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