NATIONAL NEWS - The National Tourism Department has released a Tourist Sector Recovery Plan and has invited the public to submit their input to recovery@tourism.gov.za by the end of business on 15 August.

According to the executive summary of the proposed plan, the South African tourism sector accounts for 2,9% of GDP (8,6% indirect), supports about 725 000 direct jobs (1,49 million direct and indirect) and accounts for 8,2% of total investment activity in 2019. 

Inbound tourism generates R82,5 billion in direct foreign spend (R126,7 billion total tourism expenditure), contributing an equivalent of 9,2% of total national exports.

The year 2019 saw 10,23 million international arrivals and 7,11 million domestic holiday trips.

According to the document, the Tourism Plan could preserve some R189 billion of value, helping the sector to recover to 2019 output and positioning the sector for long-term sustainable growth.

The recommendations contained in the plan are as follows:

1. Conclude a comprehensive industry/government recovery partnership to collaborate on all aspects of tourism recovery guided by the recovery plan.
2. Government has R200 billion facility working together with the SARB and commercial banks that tourism businesses are encouraged to apply for in order to access liquidity to protect tourism assets.
3. Introduce national norms and standards for safe tourism operations to ensure safe travelling and rebuild traveller confidence.
4. Enhance air access and implement an air service development programme to reconnect South Africa to the world.
5. To increase ease of access into South Africa for the purposes of stimulating the tourism, intensify work on tourism safety, and finalise the introduction of an e-visa programme for priority markets and ensure effectiveness in the licensing of tour operators.
6. Catalyse domestic demand through the phases of economic re-opening with messaging that encourages safe tourism and domestic vacation experiences.
7. Execute a global marketing and travel trade programme targeting the highest-potential source markets to reignite international demand.
8. Launch an investment and market-entry facilitation programme to stimulate capital investment, sector transformation and product diversification.
9. Prioritise cooperation with neighbouring destinations towards a regional value proposition and a seamless visitor experience.
10. Review and transform the tourism policy to deliver efficient support for growth of the sector.

The recovery plan document can be accessed at this link.

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