Coronavirus and Tourism
Coronavirus and Tourism – Cape Times reports – European tourists in Cape Town have said they are better off in South Africa than they are in their own countries, where the Covid-19 virus spread is much wider.
President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday announced a travel ban for foreign nationals from high-risk countries, including Italy, South Korea, Spain, Germany, the US, UK, China and Iran.
He also advised all South African citizens to refrain from all forms of travel and Tourism to or through European countries and other identified high-risk countries such as China, Iran and South Korea.
Swedish tourist Erik Axelsson is doing his internship in the City and said he felt safer in South Africa than he would at home.
“I’m leaving in three weeks, so that’s a concern for me right now, even though there aren’t cases in my home town.
“I’m nervous for my parents and older people,” he said.
Portuguese tourist Jessica Tavares De Almeida said she was happier in South Africa.
“I am glad I arrived last week, right before big measures were taken, otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to come.
“Hopefully it won’t have too much of an impact on the SA economy as it relies so much on tourism,” she said.
Tourist Mathias Misok, from Germany, said: “I have just come back from a road trip in South America and put myself in isolation because of Covid-19
“The reason for my self-isolation is to protect others as I don’t know if someone was infected on the plane or not,” he said.
SA Tourism chief executive Sisa Ntshona said the travel bans on foreign nationals from high-risk countries, including the cancellation of visas, would have a profound impact on the tourism sector.
However, this opportunity should be used to collaborate to find solutions beyond the current crisis.
Robben Island Museum (RIM) spokesperson Morongoa Ramaboa said the museum had to cancel its 3pm tour due to an urgent internal meeting.
“Following Cyril Ramaphosa’s national address about coronavirus where he declared a national state of disaster, Robben Island Museum has since seen a need to further review our operations given the rising reported cases,” said Ramaboa.
Cape Times
Stephen is a hospitality professional from Johannesburg South Africa. His career started with THF hotels in the UK and subsequently with the Southern Sun Hotel group in Johannesburg. Stephen’s first steps into entrepreneurship was Hickmore Recruitment / CareerMap, a leading supplier of Senior and Exec recruitment services. Stephen was a founder of Pple Hospitality (formerly HSC) the largest Hospitality Industry full-service outsourced staffing company in South Africa. In March 2020 Stephen became a director and owner of the Swiss Hotel School South Africa, which is now his full time endeavour. Stephen writes for a number of publications on food and hospitality industry matters, trends and opinions.
