Illegal tour guides in Cape Town are robbing visitors of an authentic Western Cape experience, and in many cases, giving tourists incorrect and insufficient information about the province’s scenic and cultural attractions, according to Western Cape Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Alan Winde.
Minister Winde said of the 1 123 people inspected by the Western Cape Government for the 2012/13 financial year, 187 were illegal tour guides. He said the City planned to adopt a harder approach to the problem of illegal tour guides, and said they could face fines of up to R10 000 if caught.
“The implementation of the fines, combined with inspections, awareness and co-operation with the local industry, will play a major role in addressing the problem,” said Minister Winde.
Shaheed Ebrahim, Director of Escape to the Cape, said the sooner illegal guides could be prosecuted, the sooner the industry could clean up. “These illegal guides are taking up opportunities that could have gone to accredited guides.”
He said by having illegal guides, tourists were not only at risk of being relayed inaccurate information but were being ripped off as they were not getting the services of an accredited guide and, in the event of an accident, they would not know the correct procedures to follow.
“To have untrained, substandard individuals closing off avenues of work for people who have given personal investment for a higher standard of service will be the death of tourist guiding growth if it is left unchecked,” said the Cape Tourist Guides Association (CTGA).
When asked if the CTGA thought the implementation of fines would deter these operators, it said: “When it costs you more to break the law than you can earn by breaking it then you will simply just have to stop breaking the law – or go out of business.”
Winde said the current legislation that made provision for the registration of tourists’ guides, lodging complaints and disciplinary measures, had several gaps, which had affected enforcement. “Because of this, the National Department of Tourism is working on a draft strategy to deal with compliance. This is currently under way,” he said. He added that there was also a national task team, including officials from different government departments and police, which focused on policing and monitoring illegal guiding activities.
When asked when this legislation was expected to be implemented, the minister said he would be meeting with the province’s tour guides soon.
“The Tourism Second Amendment Act 70 of 2000 currently does not empower Provincial Registrars to issue penalties to illegal tourist guides. The Act states the Provincial Registrar must report the guide to SAPS if found to be in contravention of the Act. At a national level, the National Department of Tourism has formulated the strategy. It’s envisaged this process will see amendments to the Act. These changes are expected to give provincial registrars increased enforcement powers,” said Minister Winde.
The CTGA said a basic minimum standard was essential for any industry for practical regulation to protect the customer. “If there are no standards, then the only checks and balances are when it is too late and the dissatisfied tourist has already left the country, never to return again having had a bad experience and been given misinformation.”
The CTGA recommended that in future, inspections and educating the public should be done more aggressively through marketing material, scrutinisation and applying the tourism Bill in conjunction with the Consumer Protection Act.
It asserted that the vehicle permit system should be more effectively policed and people who were illegally operating without a guide would forfeit their vehicle operating licence in accordance with the stipulated conditions. It added that it would also be very effective when insurance companies refused to honour claims when a tourism vehicle was operated without a registered guide in attendance.
Ebrahim agreed: “A big concern for me is vehicles being used with no valid permit. This also places a major risk to the tourist with regard to an insurance claim, if there is any. I find well-known companies operating out of the top hotels practising this.”
The CTGA added that it was critical that customers were educated, and encouraged to refuse to use any individual or a company unless they display their valid guide registration card (not only the badge) for a specific tour before booking.
Ebrahim suggested that, besides having a squad to go around looking for them, existing accredited guides needed to take the initiative and report instances where an illegal guide was being used.
What are your thoughts on the city’s approach to tackling the problem of illegal tour guides? Let us know by posting your comment below.
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