Smarter lockdowns mooted

TOURISM RECOVERY: STATE SLATED FOR ARBITRARY OPENING AND CLOSING OF BUSINESSES

‘Blanket approach to ban alcohol, close beaches unwarranted.’

Leaders in the tourism industry this week called for a dynamic approach with smarter lockdowns and more support for businesses in the tourism sector, while the world of travel remains fluid and the needs and wants of travellers constantly evolve as they get new information.

The tourism industry will probably take two to three years to recover, Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, chief executive of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, said in a press briefing about the economic impact of tourism on the country’s economy.

He criticised government for the arbitrary opening and closing of businesses in the tourism sector and suggested that smart lockdowns will work better.

“The liquor and beach bans were unnecessary. The blanket approach to close the beaches was unwarranted as we now find out that the virus does not spread on the beach. We cannot ban and then lift the bans all the time.

“You cannot lockdown the whole country if you cannot manage people’s behaviour in one place,” said Tshivhengwa.

With hardly any tourism happening, Tshivhengwa pointed out that tourism businesses, such as transport owners and hotels, must continue paying their overheads regardless of the fact that they are not operating.

“Government must meet us halfway. We have been advocating for tourism staff to be vaccinated at the beginning of the second vaccination phase as essential workers,” he said.

Tshivhengwa said the input costs for tourism businesses had not changed and that government must keep this in mind.

He would like to see tourism establishments paying less for rates and taxes and for transport businesses to get an extension for the time they have lost on their permits.

Sisa Ntshona, chief executive of SA Tourism, described the December break as a “nonevent”.

“For the foreseeable future, there will be little international travel. The environment is also so volatile that travellers could find that their home countries make new rules while they are here that they must quarantine when they get back.”

Ntshona pointed out that the time until borders open can be used to resolve the issue around e-visas. In China only two people issue visas by hand and in Nigeria only one person serves the whole country. “We must make it easy to come here.”