Light at the End of a Long Tunnel – article from Tourism Talk Newsletter – March 2021

LIGHT AT THE END OF A LONG TUNNEL

The R10bn set aside by the National Treasury for the purchase and delivery of COVID-19 vaccines over the next two years will go a long way towards stimulating travel.

“This will give travellers the confidence and peace of mind they need to feel safe when they travel and it should lower travel restrictions placed on South Africa from other international airlines,” said CEO of South African Tourism, Sisa Ntshona.

Following vaccine breakthroughs in 2020, the start of the global rollout of vaccines is great news for the travel world. However, there are still caveats and complications for South African tourism. The travel industry has acknowledged the vaccines as being a substantial improvement. However, there are still massive logistical costs and efforts required for the full benefits to be seen.

This is the anticipation of FEDHASA, which called on the government to speed up vaccine deployment, saying that our “competitiveness as a global tourism destination depends on perceptions of safety for travellers”.

The slow rollout is a limiting factor for South Africans, both for our ability to attract foreign tourists as well as the ease with which we can travel to other countries — and even travel within our own town or cities. With restrictions being imposed, eased, and imposed again, it’s hard to organise and carry out even local holiday plans.

But, not all is doom and gloom!

Despite the long and rocky road ahead, we shouldn’t let it deter us from exploring and getting away in our own country. After all, we have an abundance of natural wonders and exquisite landscapes right under our noses – as well as a host of tourism product owners eager to share them.

Whether vaccinated or not, it’s our responsibility to make sure we keep up with the disciplines we’ve adopted – social distancing, hand washing, and mask-wearing.

With the hopes that the pandemic will eventually be a thing of the past, the ECPTA is determined to weather the storm of uncertainty and put tourism back on the map.