By: Sello Theletsane
The United Kingdom is set to remove South Africa from its Red List, allowing easier movement between the two countries.
Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has welcomed the move following multi-stakeholder engagements between the two countries.
Sisulu emphasised the important role played by the tourism industry, which directly employs 657,000 people, with 87% of them coming from disadvantaged backgrounds.
“We are delighted to see the UK restrictions on travel to South Africa lifted, following a successful vaccine rollout in South Africa, and continued decline in new COVID-19 cases. We look forward to welcoming our British visitors in time for the South African summer season, and we will continue to work tirelessly with all our national and international partners to ensure the success of South Africa’s tourism recovery,” said Sisulu.
She added that South Africa remains open for international travel, with ease of air travel connectivity to all our major cities and the rest of the Southern African region. Last Thursday, Sisulu held the first of many engagements with Tourism Stakeholders to hear how the Department can help the industry get back on track and encouraged all in the tourism sector to vaccinate.
Sisulu added that tourism is one of South Africa’s key contributors to the country’s economy, and the government was committed to the tourism sector recovery post the Covid19 pandemic. The United Kingdom plays an important role in the country’s economic recovery as the biggest source market for tourism arrivals into South Africa. In 2019 the destination welcomed 466,841 British travellers, which was a 1.4% increase compared to the previous year.
A consumer study conducted by South African Tourism and YouGov in March 2021 showed that the British public’s intent to travel to the destination remained stable despite a turbulent year. South Africa offers travellers wide open spaces and outdoor natural landscapes, something which the country has an abundance of – from the desert plains of the Kalahari, the green vineyards of the Western Cape, the striking Drakensberg in Kwazulu-Natal, and the wild and rugged coastline of the Eastern Cape.
“Travellers to South Africa can be assured that their travel to our destination will not only be unforgettable as they come to enjoy authentic and immersive experiences of our country but positively benefit local communities. This, coupled with our responsible tourism standards, and conservation efforts and protecting our natural landscapes, makes South Africa a perfect destination for the intrepid British traveller,” added Sisulu.
South Africa is among 40 countries that will be removed from the list as of Monday. Others include Eswatini, Namibia and Zimbabwe, to mention a few.
