Department Of Tourism Updates

​For Tourism KwaZulu-Natal’s (TKZN) CEO, Phindile Makwakwa, the sector’s story does not end with the pandemic. Instead it begins right now, with the rebuilding of tourism

​The Northern Cape might not have the highest density of tourists compared to other provinces, but it calls for travellers to participate in it. From the desert landscapes of the Karoo and Kgalagadi to the rugged 320 kilometre Atlantic coastline, the Northern Cape promises an authentic experience of the sublime.

​Table Mountain, the Cape Winelands, the Karoo and the Overberg are just some of the Western Cape’s most sought-after tourist destinations. But more than a just visual feast, Wesgro – the province’s tourism, trade and investment promotion agency – says these sites, and others, are now Covid-safe and accessible to travellers. This is due to Wesgro’s tireless collaborative efforts with partners to ensure traveller safety.

​SOUTH AFRICA, Johannesburg – Tuesday, 21 December 2021: In a bid to attract a good mix of leisure and business travellers, Limpopo Tourism positioned itself as a sports, wildlife and industry mecca at the Expo 2020 in Dubai last night.

​Mpumalanga has announced that it is truly ready to welcome both local and international tourists once again following the announcement that the UK has taken South Africa off its red list.

​The showcase provides each of South Africa’s nine provinces a stage to promote its tourism hotspots to a global audience and potential investors. The pavilion’s theme “Think South Africa, Think Opportunity,” calls on investors from around the world to consider South Africa a business destination.​

​The latest decision of the UK Government to remove all 11 African countries from the red list means that hotel quarantine is no longer required for those returning to the UK from South Africa as of 4 am on 15th December. ​

​​​​South Africa welcomes the gradual return of flights from important source markets. This in the aftermath of yet another travel ban imposed on South Africa and other African countries by some countries following the diligent identification and genomic sequencing of the Omicron variant by South African scientists.​

​The Dubai Expo will provide South Africa with an opportunity to rejuvenate its ailing economy with the tourism sector hardest hit during and beyond COVID -19.  The Expo will also help promote destination South Africa and inspire the world to visit our shores, secure investment opportunities as well as to highlight the work of the industry, which is built on the concept of inclusivity and sustainability.

The North West province is one of South Africa’s largest and more significant local economies. The province is built primarily on mining with several multinational corporations having interests in gold, uranium, platinum and diamonds. A 2021 second quarter report from the North West Development Corporation shows that the province contributes six percent to the South African GDP.

​​Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has successfully lobbied the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to back South Africa and other African states and called on the world to reopen their borders. This follows the recent announcement that the country is back on the UK’s red list, which triggered travel restrictions being imposed by several other countries on Southern African countries, as a result of the identification of the new Omicron Covid-19 variant by South African scientists,​

​I am glad that WHO has taken a different approach and this is what they have said and I quote “the speed and transparency of the South African and Botswana Governments in informing the world about the new variant is to be commended”. The Who stands with African countries which had the courage to share life-saving public health information.​

“Due to the latest red listing, travel bans and travel advisories, we’ve had to be innovative in our approach to showing the world that South Africa is still a must visit destination,” commented Minister of Tourism, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu. ​​The Tourism Month at Expo on the South African pavilion culminates in 18 months of strategizing and planning to deliver an excellent showcase of the best of South Africa

​Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu convened an urgent meeting with tourism private- sector stakeholders recently to address proactively how private and public sector could collaborate to mitigate the effects on the tourism sector of the travel bans instituted this week against South Africa due to the discovery of the new Covid-19 variant.

​“While this is most disappointing South Africa will continue working with policy makers in the UK, Japan, Israel and European Union to ensure that the best possible interventions are put in place. I would like to commend the South African scientists on their diligence and all the work they have done and remain confident that all measures will be put in place to mitigate the spread of the virus,” Minister Sisulu said.​

​Delegates are expected to deliberate on the importance of innovation, education and rural development in rebuilding the tourism sector, while highlighting the urgency of transforming the sector. Annual growth in the tourism sector regularly exceeds that of the world economy and international trade.

​The MoU will enable both countries to organise training programmes in the field of tourism, including marketing, sustainable development of tourism and related subjects for officials of both countries and develop close cooperation between institutions of both countries.

​Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has welcomed the United Kingdom’s decision to remove South Africa from a list of countries in their red list, thus opening British travellers to visit South Africa without requiring hotel quarantine upon return.

​In her keynote speech at Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit this afternoon, Sisulu mentioned that she addressed the red list matter with the British Deputy High Commissioner to South Africa this morning. After some discussion, they had agreed to bring together scientists and advisors from both countries to conduct further research into the Coronavirus Beta variant that has so far created the perception that South Africa is a COVID hotspot.

​It is befitting that we are launching Africa Travel and Tourism Summit during the Tourism Month when South Africa celebrates tourism and heritage.

​This Summit comes at a turning point in our industry, when every decision we make will determine the future of tourism in Africa. It is, therefore, crucial that we work together and devise solutions for the betterment of tourism and the economy as a whole.  An anonymous Swahili proverb states: “Where there is many, nothing goes wrong.

​“Our membership of the executive council, will assist to reposition Africa, establish our continent as a destination of choice and highlight our tourism offerings for travellers. It will be a great honour for us to serve Africa in this way, advancing Brand Africa and unlocking growth for the continent.,” says the Director-General of the Department of Tourism, Mr Victor Tharage.

​The tourism industry is of great significance and potential to South Africa and is one of the six key sectors of economic growth. China has always been an important global source market for the tourism of South Africa and is a strategic trade partner to South Africa.  This symbiotic relationship will definitively drive recovery in the sector.

​Addressing the high-Level Ministerial Panel under the theme “Strengthening Brand Africa for the swift recovery of the tourism sector” the Deputy Minister highlighted the importance of rebuilding the continental brand through actions that dispel negative perceptions about the business environment on the continent

​This event is held annually to ensure that the research findings speak to the needs of stakeholders in the sector and to obtain constructive feedback from key stakeholders and researchers in the sector. It also aims to disseminate findings to key stakeholders in tourism, thereby ensuring that research recommendations are implemented, and translated into policy and practice. This year’s webinar was topical as it looked at the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism sector and the potential opportunities going forward.

​During the 2019 State of the Nation Address (SoNA), the President of the Republic Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa emphasized the importance of expanding the tourism sector to be able to reach 21 million tourist arrivals by 2030 whilst also highlighting the need to focus on lucrative markets such as China and India