Getting Tourism on Track: Will South Africa be set to reopen in September?

It’s no secret that tourism has been one of the hardest hit sectors since the Nationwide lockdown commenced in March. The Summer high season, which runs from September to March and represents 60% of the annual business for the tourism industry, is fast approaching. But will South Africa be set to reopen the borders and get the hardest hit sector back on its feet?
Originally set to only reopen again in levels 1 and 2, many businesses breathed a sigh of relief with the announcement that level 3 of lockdown would allow certain places to reopen under strict regulations.

The list of businesses activities allowed in level 3 include: 

• Professional services, such as tourist guides, tour operators, travel agents, and tourism information officers,
• Professional services, including training of nature guides and other related services able to ensure safe physical distancing,
• Public and private game farms for self-drive excursions,
• Hiking in compliance with existing guidelines and not in groups,
• Accommodation activities, except for leisure and establishments, would no longer require a letter from the minister to operate. They were required to ensure that they accommodated those in the permitted services and kept records for inspections by the department, and
• Hunting and gaming activities.
The activities that remain banned include conferences, events, festivals, entertainment activities, casinos, and all leisure-related travel.

What is being done to get SA back on the tourism track?

Brought to a complete halt, recovery plans and strategies have been put in place to reignite the tourism industry. Durban Tourism recently launched its “Virtual Know Your City” campaign, in a bid to keep Durban top-of-mind by showcasing all of which has made it a destination of choice over the years.
On a provincial level, Tourism KwaZulu-Natal (TKZN)  is offering support to small businesses by assisting them with recovery strategies and measures to help them cope during the pandemic. Acting CEO of TKZN, Phindile Makwakwa, says that “To capacitate and equip small tourism enterprises with information, knowledge and the tools necessary to function in a COVID-19 environment, TKZN will host online workshops to share vital information to get small tourism business back on track,”. The online workshops will target small, medium, and micro-enterprises in KZN and focus on business strategies for operations and financial recovery. For more information on how to participate, businesses can visit TKZN’s Facebook page or email samora@zulu.org.za.
On a national level, the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBSCA) has been lobbying for an earlier, phased reopening of South Africa’s borders with the goal to reopen South Africa to international tourists by September 2020. However, Minister of Tourism Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane stated that international tourists may only be welcomed back in 2021 as the reopening will be phased – starting with domestic tourism, followed by regional, and then international.

What will be the new ‘normal’ in the return of tourism businesses?

The return of tourism doesn’t come without a list of strict health regulations – restaurants have been allowed to operate but only for collection and deliveries, with “sit-downs” still being prohibited. Many hotels also reopened as of June 1st, providing accommodation to business travelers now allowed in level 3.  The City Lodge Hotel group’s list of stringent, multi-disciplinary measures gives us an idea of the new ‘normal’ in the return of tourism and what traveling during the pandemic will entail. Their measures include:
• Health screenings for both guests and staff upon entering our buildings which includes sanitisation of hands, temperature check, and questionnaire,
• Social distancing signage and enforcement of best practices by hotel management,
• Specialised deep cleaning using a leading polycide chemical,
• Strict room cleaning policies to eliminate cross-contamination between rooms,
• Individually packaged food service to ensure you receive a tasty meal with limited risk,
• To kill any potential viral matter, linen and towels are washed on the hottest wash cycle at 80°C,
• Personal protection equipment, such as face masks, gloves, and aprons, to be worn by staff at all times. Guests are to wear face masks in public areas at all times,
• Ongoing training to keep our staff informed and well-versed in best practices, and
• Periodic independent Covid-19 Risk Assessment Audits by FCS, a reputable third-party.
So will South Africa be set to reopen in September? Only time will tell. With strict sanitary regulations and business recovery plans in place, businesses in the tourism industry might just be able to get back on track. Remember that we all have a part to play in South African economy – start by supporting local with our local businesses shopping list.