‘RED LIST’ DECISION IS AN OPPORTUNITY

THE UK government’s decision to keep South Africa on its “red list” due to the Covid-19 pandemic should give our country the opportunity to develop its domestic tourism market to make the sector more sustainable.

Independent Media reported yesterday that the South African government was puzzled by the UK’s decision to keep the country on its list of those facing strict restrictions and high costs when entering the UK.

International Relations and Co-operation Minister Naledi Pandor said: “We firmly believe there is no reasonable basis for keeping South Africa on the red list, and I am very disappointed.”

She described the continued exclusion of South Africa as “shocking” given the country’s progress in combating the Covid-19 pandemic.

Pandor’s determination to intensify efforts to have the country removed from the list should be supported.

However, while efforts to lobby the UK government are under way, the country’s tourism industry, working together with the government, should work tirelessly to promote our very own world-class tourists attractions to cater for domestic and African visitors.

To expect that such a move would replace or even surpass the tourism revenue generated by the influx of rich UK tourists with foreign currency would be naive. However, a robust marketing of domestic tourism products could ensure that the industry remains resilient while we wait for the UK government to come to its senses.

Providing locals the opportunity to explore their own country through affordable travel packages could go a long way in keeping all the role players in the tourism value chain above water.

Our tourists attractions that require aggressive marketing to the domestic and African markets include the Drakensberg mountains and game reserves in KwaZulu-Natal, the majestic Table Mountain and the Winelands in Cape Town, the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve and the Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga, and Mapungubwe National Park in Limpopo. Township tourism could also benefit a great deal from the initiative.

Covid-19 will be part of our lives for the foreseeable future. This means that self-reliance and building internal capacity is perhaps one of the best ways of keeping our economy alive.