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The
Development Bank of Southern Africa has prioritized
the tourism sector, as one of its'key development
thrusts in the 14 SADC nations. In its triple role
of investor, advisor and partner, the DBSA combines
finance and knowledge to resolve development
challenges, recognizing the contribution that
tourism can make towards economic and social
development, and the alleviation of poverty. Mr.
Jacob de Villiers Botha, Executive Director, DBSA,
hosted the opening dinner at the ATA 28th
International Congress. Photo (from left) Mira
Berman, Executive Director, ATA; Hon. Patrick
Kalifungwa, Minister of Tourism, Zambia; Mr. Botha,
DBSA; Hon. Zakia Hamdani Meghji, ATA President and
Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism,
Tanzania. The DBSA
aims to become a centre of excellence in Africa
that can provide knowledge and expertise to its
beneficiaries. As part of its triple role of
investor, advisor and partner, the DBSA combines
finance and knowledge to resolve development
challenges.
The
DBSA recognizes the essential contribution that
tourism can make towards economic and social
development, and the alleviation of poverty. In
recognition of this fact, the DBSA has prioritized
the tourism sector, as one of its' seven key
development thrusts in South Africa and the South
African Development Community (SADC).
DBSA
services to the tourism sector can be grouped into
five categories: •
Finance: The DBSA provides finance for tourism
infrastructure investments to both public and
private sector clients, through instruments such as
equity, loans and grants. Grant funding is
available for elements such as project preparation,
capacity building and training linked to DBSA
projects. •
Agency services: The DBSA may act on behalf of
other stakeholders in promoting tourism development
in the region. •
Consultancy: The DBSA provides consultancy services
that facilitate the implementation of tourism
infrastructure. This may for example include
preparing and delivering discussion papers on
critical tourism issues, as well as consulting to
various Governments on regional tourism
initiatives. • Technical
assistance: The DBSA provides grant funding as well
as expertise for initiatives in support of tourism
development. This may include policy processes,
strategy formulation, development planning, program
development, human resource development and
capacity building. •
Information and knowledge: The DBSA prides itself
on being a knowledge-based institution, and
provides information and knowledge to both internal
and external clients. The DBSA recently launched a
special issue on tourism of a journal entitled
'Development Southern Africa'. The DBSA's
current tourism projects spread throughout the
country and the region. Its total technical
assistance grant portfolio amounts to approximately
R7m. Approximately R6m is for projects in South
Africa and R1m for projects in Southern Africa
Development Community (SADC) countries. The DBSA's
total loan and equity portfolio amounts to
approximately R300m, R260m of which are for
projects in South Africa and approximately R40m for
projects in SADC. In terms of future potential
projects, tourism infrastructure projects worth
more than R515m have already been
identified. The DBSA
will remain committed to tourism infrastructure
development in support of improving the quality of
life to the people of South and southern Africa.
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