Department of Tourism

It's my workplace. Without exaggerating, its a good place to work at. It's characterized by good people and wonderful culture.

When I visited the department two week ago to drop off some documents, security was very friendly and professional. The reception ladies were also quite friendly and professional. I was relieved to see none of them eating any slap chips behind the counter - as we the case in the last visit the previous year. I do think that the office staff have to put measures in place to respond quickly to a call by reception. The poor ladies are forced to make a few calls hunting for the person being visited to come down and fetch the visitor. This process can be dramatically improved with just one or two simple ideas - and this would enhance the experience of being welcomed. And one can be made to feel they have entered the ''tourism'' space - the home of people who understand the South African warm welcome!

My future Place of work! I love what they do here! Departments setting a great example for the tourism industry, its taking the lead on maintaining strict covid protocals on entry at their offices, really liked that. Department handling regularitary, legislative and policy implementation for SA's tourism sector. Destination marketing, development and international relations activities are plan and implemented here, giving the Tourism industry what it needs to keep contributing positively towards the countries GDP future economic growth of country.

We note with horror the contradiction between the mandate of the Department of Tourism which is as stated on their website " to create conditions for the sustainable growth and development of tourism in South Africa....." and the practices of the Timbavati and associated Game Reserves. The application by Timbavati Game Reserve for permits for the slaughter of the critically endangered supper tusker just 25-30 animals with this unique gene still living , endangered elephants 34, rhinos, a giraffe and countless other animals and the sign off from Kruger National Park for these permits is a total affront to the notion of conservation. The inclusion of species that are critcially endangered in the permit requests and the fact that South Africa has not enacted a total ban on the hunting of all endangered species, acceleratiing the possibility of their extinction does not fit your mission statement and does nothing to enhance the image of South Africa as a destination for eco-tourism. It clearly has the opposite effect. Even if one ignores the moral issues of trophy hunting the truth is that the animals are dying and the species are declining and will be gone. Revenue from hunting will disappear with the animals and South Africa will have nothing, its lifeblood and soul sold for a few valueless dollars.

Dorothy Lyman was very helpful doing her job, reminding me of all the good things I saw and did while I was here in SA

Went to the place business related visit otherwise they were a bunch of well manoured people

I am calling and I have been waiting for some one to answer the phone for more than an hour, I finally put down and called the switchboard number and nobody answers I am still waiting for more than 20 minutes - really now very annoyed with this service

Hectic covid protocols in place