R10 million allocated for tourism recovery
The MEC for finance, Pat Ngomane, has defended his decision to reduce budget allocations to certain departments such as education, health, safety and security, and public works, roads and transport.
Ngomane, who on Tuesday delivered his adjustment budget speech, announced that a number of departments have seen budget cuts, while economic development and tourism received an increment.
Speaking to Mpumalanga News on Saturday at the Kruger National Park, he argued that the economy had taken some serious knocks due to the outbreak of Covid-19 and therefore government needed to come up with innovations to help stimulate the economy.
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“The tourism sector is a driving force behind our economy. It has been widely proven that tourism plays a huge role in growing the economy and the rationale behind the increment has been motivated by this. We believe that focusing our energy towards growing our tourism sector will have fruitful results for us at the end, but without us compromising the functions of the other departments,” said Ngomane.
He told this paper that government had allocated R10 million that will go towards the implementation of the provincial tourism recovery plan.
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“We have noted with great concern the issue of tourism in the province, and I must admit it is attacking us and we need to revive this industry. We have set aside R10 million that will go towards SMMEs that are working closely with the tourism sector. We are aware that this is not enough, but it is the beginning and hopefully we will increase this relief grant when the new financial year kicks in,” continued Ngomane.
