By: Sello Theletsane
Deputy Minister of Tourism Fish Mahlalela says the continued red listing of South Africa is hampering the industry’s recovery.
Speaking during the World Tourism Day Celebrations in Clarens on Monday, Mahlalela delivered the speech on behalf of Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, told guests that we could not talk about tourism without reflecting on the major hindrances that impede tourism recovery.
“We cannot talk about tourism without indicating the progress we are making in reversing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. It does not matter how much statistical language we speak, it will only be when we share the efforts we are making in removing South Africa from the red lists of our major tourism source markets that we can begin to talk sense on whatever we want to share with you,” Mahlalela said.
He announced that he had received a full briefing regarding the countries that still have restrictions on travellers coming to South Africa or our tourists and business people going to those countries. He said the department prioritized dealing with the matter, and at the top of the table was the United Kingdom.
“Last week, when I addressed the World Travel and Tourism Summit in Sandton, I reflected on the initiatives we have taken in engaging the UK on the matter of red listing. I pointed out the misconceptions around the variants of the virus in South Africa, including concerns by the UK Government about our anti-virus measures. We are now finalizing all logistics for our scientists and their scientists to meet and compare notes and address their concerns,” he said.
Mahlalela said collaborations were needed between the country, the UK, and other countries to lift restrictions.
“We must respond to their concerns and provide the information they need. I know that DIRCO, Health, and Home Affairs, and other departments are busy with these matters. For this reason, I want to assure the sector that these matters are a priority for Government,” he said.
Mahlalela said the department had written to the Health Minister and indicated they could attend to the matter. The department has also engaged the Acting High Commissioner of the UK.
“I have asked him as well to urgently arrange a meeting between myself and the Minister of Transportation in the UK, who is leading the Task Force dealing with transportation and the restrictions. I am told that Brazil and also other few countries also have us still under some restrictions. This is also a matter that we are busy with; we are all hands on deck,” Mahlalela said.
He welcomed the move by Germany, the United States of America, the United Arab Emirates, and many other countries that have removed restrictions against South Africa.
“I must also indicate that some of the concerns that are being raised include issues around the vaccination certificate, including the digital vaccination certificate, which Cabinet is busy with. Vaccination, the beta variant, and compliance with COVID – 19 non-medical protocols that are outlined regularly by our President, like wearing masks, washing hands, social distancing, and vaccination, are in the mix of concerns that our source markets often raise,” he said.
Mahlalela added that the department needed to communicate its state of readiness to welcome visitors more. He said they needed to show more that they were ready and prepared.
“I have tasked the Director-General to continue to engage with sector leaders for the message to go out that we are ready, our sector is ready, and our workers in the sector are being vaccinated. I have told the Director-General to let us launch our sector vaccination program to ensure that all our tourism workers are being vaccinated. So on the 30th of this month, we are launching that in Pretoria. Tourists coming to South Africa need to know that our workers and service providers are vaccinated. We must lead the sector in vaccination,” he said.
