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The cabinet’s decision to open the country’s borders on October 1, 2020 to “the majority” of countries is a significant milestone in setting the sector on an irreversible path to full recovery, says Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi- Ngubane.
On this date, all travelers from the African continent and from countries outside the African continent with a low rate of infection and transmission of Covid-19 will resume.
Speaking at a World Tourism Day event on Sunday (September 27), Kubayi-Ngubane said that data from South Africa shows a downward trend in the risk of spreading the virus.
“South Africa is possibly among the safest tourist destinations in the world. We are hopeful that South Africans will continue to withdraw socially, wear masks and take all necessary precautions to protect themselves so that we can continue to reduce the spread of the virus, ”he said.
Kubayi-Ngubane said that as part of the recovery, it will be critical that we focus on protecting and rejuvenating the supply side of the market.
“The public and private sector will have to find ways to work together to ensure business continuity, aligning the value chain with the new biosafety standards, as well as facilitating investment and market access,” he said.
“The growing domestic demand, which will soon be increased by the international market when we open the borders, will have been satisfied with sufficient infrastructure on the supply side. This is a very critical element of our road to recovery. “
In the patch
Kubayi-Ngubane said that since the government opened interprovincial travel under the level 2 blockade, the shed has been traveling across provinces visiting establishments and meeting travelers and property owners.
“I am pleased to report that many of the establishments are ready to reopen if they have not yet opened and South Africans are very interested in traveling to their own country,” he said.
“Across the country, South Africans send me messages and photos of their tourism experiences. South Africans are taking their family and friends on adventures, safaris, hikes, and other types of memorable tourist experiences our country has to offer.
“After six months of blockade, South Africans are doing everything possible to rediscover their country.”
The minister said that the “vitality” of the national tourism sector is in line with the government’s recovery plan that foresees that the recovery will occur in phases.
“In this regard, we forecast that the recovery will begin with domestic tourism, then regional land and air markets and finally the resumption of international travel around the world,” he said.
Travel List
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula says South Africa will adopt a risk-based system in the selection of the countries to which South Africa will be allowed to travel and to which countries South African citizens will be allowed to fly.
Mbalula said the government will largely adopt the same approach that was used before South Africa entered a level 5 lockdown, with countries classified as ‘high risk’ or ‘low risk’ for travel purposes.
“For example, if you take the entire United States, it will probably be high risk, and then we will treat it as such. Whereas the UAE will probably be seen as a low risk country, ”said Mbalula.
The transport minister indicated that the government will seek to place entire countries or regions on the high risk list due to the possibility of connecting.
Using the example of the United States, he said it was possible for passengers to board and fly anywhere from New York, Miami or Los Angeles. This means that the country as a whole is at risk.
However, he said the government will also take a ‘differentiated approach’ and formulate its list on a country-by-country basis, based on the current coronavirus situation.
Read: Government confirms revised tourism and sports closure rules for South Africa
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