BL Premium reports that tourism industry stakeholders said on Thursday that the decision to lift international travel restrictions, ahead of the festive season, would help the R400bn sector recover from the Covid-19 lockdown and instill confidence that SA was a safe destination to travel to.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Wednesday that level 1 regulations would be amended to allow international travel to SA from all countries, subject to health and safety protocols and the presentation of a valid negative Covid-19 test result. Although SA opened its borders on 1 October, it was only for tourists from the continent and those countries deemed to be at low risk of Covid-19 surges. Tourists from “main source” countries such as the UK, US and many European countries continued to be barred as they were experiencing surges in infections. Tourism, which accounts for an estimated 8.6% of GDP and supports about 1.5-million jobs, has been one of the biggest casualties of the economic slump caused by the Covid-19 lockdown and has lost more than R54bn to the pandemic. “We are happy and delighted that borders are open. The key thing is that SA is signalling to the world that tourism is open. This brings about policy certainty on what’s required when travelling to SA,” SA Tourism CEO Sisa Ntshona commented. The president also announced the amendment of the regulations to allow for the sale of alcohol at retail outlets during licensed operating hours, a decision that will assist businesses in the tourism and hospitality sectors.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (paywall access only)
- Read too, Tourism back in full swing as SA opens its borders, at BusinessLive (paywall access only)
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