The Office of the Premier in South Africa’s Eastern Cape has unveiled the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency Act 2024, marking a significant development for the province’s tourism sector. The new legislation, which will come into effect on a date yet to be announced, is poised to replace the existing 2010 Act.
The 2024 Act introduces comprehensive changes, addressing various aspects of the agency’s operations. Key areas covered include provincial oversight, board administration, finances, compliance measures, and provisions for offences and transitional arrangements.
Of particular interest to Eastern Cape’s tourism industry are the provisions outlined in Chapter 6 of the Act. This section, spanning pages 64 to 67 of the gazette, focuses specifically on tourism-related matters. Sections 37 to 46 detail the registration requirements for “tourist services”, as defined on page 52 of the Act. Additionally, Section 70 outlines transitional arrangements that will impact tourism registration requirements.
It is anticipated that regulations detailing the precise registration requirements, including necessary forms and fees, will be published in the coming months.
While the 2010 Act encouraged tourist amenities and services, including restaurants and accommodation establishments, to register with the Agency, this remained a voluntary process. The new Act may potentially alter this landscape.
Tourism service providers currently registered with the agency are advised to review the transitional arrangements outlined in Section 70 on page 73 of the gazette. Those not yet registered might consider doing so through the agency’s online portal at https://visiteasterncape.co.za/corporate/ecpta/tourism-business-registration/.
The agency maintains that online registration not only fulfils the requirements of the 2010 Act but also provides businesses with valuable advertising and marketing opportunities.
For further information regarding registration, interested parties can contact the agency on +27 (0)43 492 0881, requesting the office handling tourism business registration. Alternatively, enquiries can be directed via email to info@ecpta.co.za.
As the Eastern Cape prepares for this legislative transition, tourism stakeholders are encouraged to stay informed about the impending changes and their potential implications for the industry.
