Western Cape Premier Alan Winde delivered his State of the Province (Sopa) on February 17, outlining the province’s various projects and goals for 2021.
Most of the points focused on the economic recovery of the Western Cape in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The focus areas include:
- Covid-19 response
- Johnson and Johnson trials
- Jobs and the economy
- Safety
- Dignity and wellbeing
Winde also announced plans to lobby government to introduce Remote Working Visas. He said that helping the tourism industry to recover will require innovation, to cater for the new shape of global travel amidst the pandemic.
Cape Town was voted one of the ‘Best Cities for Remote Working’ for 2021, on a list of 50.
‘These “digital nomads” are a new kind of tourist, who will stay in our province for 3 months instead of 3 weeks, enjoying our tourism offer while working on their laptops,’ said Winde.
‘We have everything it takes to be the best remote working location in the world if we remove the red tape – and roll-out the red-carpet for these travellers. To do so, South Africa urgently needs to introduce a ‘Remote Working Visa’. Most leading tourism destinations in the world have one already, and we should have one too.’
Winde continued to say that the Western Cape Government will lobby both President Ramaphosa and Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi to introduce this visa.
He went on to say that domestic tourism is the number one priority at this point, and to maximise domestic travel to the Western Cape.
‘We must continue to be the leading tourism destination in South Africa, and we must encourage more of our fellow citizens to visit our province. I am therefore happy to confirm that Wesgro will be continuing with its highly successful domestic tourism campaign – which has already secured 21 000 seat bookings through its microsite,’ he explained.
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