Dundee Tourism rejects MEC’s 10% levy
Mr Parkinson said the committee has been active this past year in attending tourism events such as the Beeld show, the Tourism Indaba in Durban and the Getaway Show in Johannesburg.
The 10% tourism levy on all accommodation establishments in KZN – already decided on by the MEC – was an issue of major discontent at last week’s Dundee Tourism annual general meeting.
Norman Parkinson, Dundee Tourism Chairperson, reported that short notice prevented the committee from attending a ‘breakfast briefing’ with the MEC and tourism stakeholders ‘to discuss the levy’.
However, Dundee Tourism joined the chorus of protests against the 10% levy, which is to be used as a ‘war chest’ to fund tourism shows and events in KZN.
“We are concerned that the ‘war chest’ will only benefit Durban and surrounds, and not the whole province. Furthermore, why only target accommodation establishments? Car hire companies, restaurants, supermarkets, et cetera all make profits from tourism. There are also questions as to how the money will be collected,” Mr Parkinson told the meeting. Better news was the unveiling of the urban renewal project – directed by the Premier’s office – which is set to transform the aesthetics of the town.
Dundee Tourism is part of the project regarding the refurbishing of the welcome walls at the entrance to the town. Concerns regarding the levying of business electricity tariffs on B&Bs were also raised. Unfortunately, despite invitations being sent out, there were no representatives from the municipality at the annual general meeting (even though tourism is one of the few growing sectors in the town).
Charles Aitkenhead asked the committee what input it was giving regarding the out-of-control nature of street trading, which is ‘ruining the town’. It was suggested that the committee write a letter to the municipality in support of the recently-promised crack-down on parking bay hawkers and pavement street traders who block access to shops.
Mr Parkinson said the committee has been active this past year in attending tourism events such as the Beeld show, the Tourism Indaba in Durban and the Getaway Show in Johannesburg. These shows have proven to be of tremendous value in spreading the word of the Dundee area’s diverse range of tourist attractions. Retired school teacher and former head of the Umzinyathi Environmental Education Centre, Kevin Burge, wrapped up the meeting with an entertaining presentation on youth and tourism.
