THRIVE ISSUE 5 DECEMBER 2024 11 In 1945 coming out of the second world war, South Africa becomes a founding member of the United Nations, which in 1948 publish the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as part of rebuilding society wherein, the Right to Leisure under article 24 is entrenched. Whilst the world goes one direction South Africa takes a tangent and in 1953 the Separate Amenities Act is passed further entrenching racial segregation which tampers with the human rights and dignity of natives. This Act amongst other things would influence the domestic culture of travel and tourism, as access was limited for the majority and quality of accessible amenities designed to be substandard. The struggle for liberation intensified, in 1963 a decade later Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment at the age of forty-four and incarcerated on Robben Island together with many other liberation fighters. The popularity of the Cape Colony as thee Health Resort for Europe continued to soar. In 1974 global politics come to bare in South Africa as it is kicked out of the United Nations because of its apartheid policies. This is followed by the youth uprising in Soweto 1976, igniting protest action across the country until 1978. The struggle continues. South Africa is removed from many itineraries and becomes and undesirable destination to visit as the anti-apartheid movement gains momentum globally, successfully getting the Republic kicked out of international sports and other cultural events who in the main promoted human rights and upheld human dignity which apartheid as a policy did not conform to. In 1989 as the Berlin wall fell signaling the end of the cold war. In months to follow, liberation organisations, were unbanned on 9 February 1990 followed by the release of the late Nelson Mandela on 11 February 1990 as an old man of 72, to lead the negotiations that would unite South Africa’s people under one flag and Constitution. As tourism follows trade, the lifting of the economic sanctions, and the cultural boycott saw a resurgence of tourism as the world was curious to feast on natural heritage it was already famous for, but to also discover the South Africa that was hidden. In 1996 the white paper on Tourism Development and Promotion for South Africa under the problem statement “A missed opportunity”. To date much has been done to address the challenges in the above problem statement and more can be done. From the liberation we are celebrating, South Africa created new experiences not just for enjoyment but for healing and learning so we may never go down the same road again. We share our experiences with the world and in that way contribute to the preservation of our collective humanity with tourism and hospitality being the delivery medium. In the next thirty years, a resilient and socially sustainable tourism will require more locals travelling and enjoying their country and region, becoming stewards of our heritage. These celebrations will not be complete without celebrating the welcoming smiles and helping hands that carry these experiences and embody the spirit of botho/ubuntu. “Tourism development in South Africa has largely been a missed opportunity. Had its history been different, South Africa would probably have been one of the most visited places in the world. The tourism industry in South Africa has been woefully protected - protected from foreign competition (limited international investment in tourism facilities), protected from demanding, long-stay tourists (limited flow of international visitors) and protected from itself (suppliers cater to a largely homogeneous and predictable clientele, i.e. the easily identifiable needs of the privileged class). As such, the potential of the tourism industry to spawn entrepreneurship, to create new services (e.g. local entertainment, handicrafts, etc.), to “drive” other sectors of the economy, to strengthen rural communities, to generate foreign exchange and to create employment, has not been realised.” 1996 White Paper on Tourism Development and Promotion for South Africa
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