BL Premium reports that the tourism industry is lobbying for its front-line workers to be prioritised in the second phase of the vaccination rollout to reassure travellers of their safety.

The industry, which has been devastated by the lockdowns required by the Covid-19 pandemic with many hotels, restaurants and guesthouses closing down, contributes about 8.6% of GDP and supports about 1.5-million jobs. Tourism Business Council of SA’s (TBCSA’s) Blacky Komani told MPs on Tuesday that tourism minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane had indicated to the council last week that front-line tourism workers — such as those working in reception and tour guides — would be considered for vaccination in phase two. The TBCSA has invested R12m in a vaccination programme. In terms of the government’s vaccination roll-out plan, phase 2 will cover about 16-million people including essential workers, people in congregate settings, those over the age of 60 years and those with co-morbidities. Tourism and transport group Cullinan CEO Michael Tollman said it would make a big difference if front-line workers were vaccinated to encourage foreign tourists to come to SA. The TBCSA also wants a further extension of the Ters employee scheme, which currently terminates on 15 March. Komani said the industry was in the intensive-care unit and was relying on domestic travel to keep it going, but this remained limited.

• Read the full original of the informative report in the above regard by Linda Ensor at BusinessLive (paywall access only)

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