Travel bans likely to cost local economy R6.5bn

South Africa’s economy will bleed R6.5-billion in foreign revenue due to the travel ban on the country following the detection of the Omicron variant, professional services firm PWC has estimated.

As international attention exploded about Omicron, the World Health Organisation classified it as a “variant of concern” on November 27 over concerns that it could be more transmissible than the Delta variant that is currently fueling a severe fourth wave in Europe. In response, a total of 92 countries have banned travel to and from SA.

A survey by the Southern African Tourism Services Association and the Federated Hospitality Association found that travel bans cost South Africa at least half a million travel bookings.