Covid-19 Coronavirus: South African Tourism Update

While domestic tourism is still far from full recovery, all indications signal a glimmer of hope on the horizon. When South Africa went into lockdown on 26 March 2020, both domestic and international travel came to a standstill.  The easing of lockdown levels at the start of June ushered in domestic business travel. In late July, intra-provincial travel opened up which meant that South Africans could travel within their provinces. This was shortly followed by the opening of inter-provincial travel, spurring life into the domestic travel market.

President Ramaphosa confirmed that South Africa will move to an adjusted Level 3 on the risk adjusted framework.

South African Tourism (SA Tourism), through its business unit, the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA), launched an initiative to support graded establishments in the COVID-19 hotspot areas as identified by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 14th December 2020.

Co-owner of Zai O.A.T Lodge in Jane Furse, Limpopo Province, Laduma Thembe, had a simple but clear message for the close to 100 SMME’s that attended the Limpopo leg of the SMME Workshop over the weekend.

The International Day for Persons with Disabilities and Disability Awareness Month both present an opportunity for the tourism sector to once again align to ensure universal accessibility and strive to make tourism accessible for all. Universal access affords all people equal opportunity and access to services and products for their benefit, regardless of their social class, ethnicity, ancestry or physical disabilities.

Around 70 tourism SMME’s from various parts of the Northern Cape welcomed the initiative by South African Tourism to include a workshop as part of the recently launched Summer Campaign. The SMME’s formed part of proceedings at Naba Lodge in Upington this weekend and were exposed to a masterclass on doing business in a COVID-19 environment as well as expert advice on marketing and embracing digital technology.

South Africa has an unbelievable diversity of things to do and places to explore in all its nine provinces and this week South African Tourism kicks off a campaign to showcase this wide variety of tourism attraction and experiences across the country.

South African Tourism (SA Tourism) is delighted by government’s recent announcement that South Africa is now open to all international leisure and business travellers from all over the globe. The opening of all international travel follows President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement on Wednesday that South Africa would be moving to augmented alert level 1, thus opening up international borders for all countries from 11 November 2020.

South African Tourism (SA Tourism) welcomes government’s direction as South Africa opens its international borders today. While South Africa’s borders will not be open to all countries for leisure travel, SA Tourism is delighted to welcome those visitors that are able to come to our country.

World Tourism Day is a United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) initiative observed annually on 27 September to highlight the sector’s contribution to the socio–economic development of nations, and the advancement of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

The Cradle of Humankind and Sterkfontein Caves in Gauteng will host the day-long global event this Sunday, celebrated by the UNWTO annually on 27th September. Internationally-acclaimed and award-winning DJ, Black Coffee, will indulge and entertain his local and global fans with a unique two-hour set from the Sterkfontein Caves, with a live broadcast on Channel O.

South Africa is open and ready to welcome travellers from across the world! South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Wednesday, 16 September that cabinet has decided to place the entire country on alert level 1, thus opening up international borders for selected countries from 1 October 2020.