Lowveld tourism operators eagerly await the Brits
MBOMBELA - The UK removed South Africa from its red list, and Lowveld tourists and tourism operators alike are overjoyed for many reasons.
The official removal was on October 11. South Africa was removed from the red list along with 47 other countries, according to the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (Satsa).
The association's CEO, David Frost, said in a letter addressed to all Satsa members that travellers arriving from non-redlisted countries who have received any of the four vaccines - Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna and Janssen - in the UK, US, EU, and 18 other countries, now have their inoculation status recognised and can avoid isolation as long as they test negative within two days of their arrival.
Everyone else arriving from nonredlisted countries must still isolate for at least five days, but can use the "test-to-release system" to be freed.
As expected, the KLCBT was also thrilled by the news. Linda Grimbeek, the chamber's COO, said the UK is South Africa’s most important source market and will contribute vastly to the economic recovery of the country and the Lowveld.
“Tourism has a long value chain, which became very clear during lockdown. We quickly realised that the Lowveld economy especially is highly dependent on tourism.
“We have seen the German,
Dutch and other important markets opening, blowing some life into local tourism, but we are especially grateful that UK opened for a couple of reasons.
“Obviously the tourists can travel here again, and people are hungry for travel. They are a high-value source market - they spend a lot of money during their travels.
“For us of equal importance is that with the return of the UK market, the luxury private lodges that were moth-balled until now, will start to reopen.”
Grimbeek said this again benefits a whole range of other people, from airport transfer operators to suppliers of meat, alcohol and fresh produce.
“Most importantly the visits to the surrounding communities will resume, benefiting hundreds of local people who offer culture-based activities to visitors.
“There are also many charities and schools that receive donations from visitors. They really had nothing coming to them during the lockdown period. All of these things will resume and more funds will be available in the local economy.
“Lastly, the UK is a very important leader in these decisions. We expect that other countries will quickly follow the decisions of the UK and regard South Africa as a safer destination.”
Hylton Langley, a local tour operator who participated in the tourism slow-drive protest on
July 17, said he was delighted by the news. Although his market is predominantly Swedish, he has hope that bookings would be coming in soon.
“A lot of people look to the UK. I think if they go for it, the European government will start loosening up.”
He said although he had not had any new bookings yet, it is all positive and he expects the move by the UK to have a ripple effect.
Grimbeek said the final step after this important decision is for us to get our house in order. “We must be vaccinated and make sure the staff coming in contact with tourists are vaccinated. They will enquire if a place is fully vaccinated when making bookings.
“If we want to lessen the blow of the fourth wave predicted for December, we also need to be vaccinated. December is a lifeline for domestic tourism and we cannot afford to lose another holiday season.”
The UK is SA’s most important source market and will contribute vastly to economic recovery