Local leisure tourism may be back up and running by late September or early October, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Fish Mahlalela told Tourism Update.
This is based on projections by health experts and estimations that the COVID-19 infection rate should flatten by then.
Domestic tourism could resume by late September.
‘The virus is likely to flatten in September according to health experts. At this point in time, borders open for international travellers is likely to be January 2021,’ he said.
This reaffirms Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane’s statement in June that said the country is likely to open its borders in 2021.
Tourism Business Council of South Africa, however, have called for borders to reopen for inbound tourism as soon as September.
Mahlalela said that one of the main reasons borders cannot be opened for international tourism sooner is because the country will not be a desirable destination due to the high rate of infections. ‘We cannot market South Africa in its current state,’ he said.
Mahlalela went on to plead for patience and understanding from the travel industry.
‘As government, we need to listen to their views and come as a collective to come up with solutions. All we ask is that the industry understand that this is a global pandemic that has affected all industries,’ Mahlalela said. ‘It has been very difficult for government to balance lives and livelihoods and we are trying to ensure the sector can strike this balance.’
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