Tourism Minister Provides Clarity Following President’S Speech
The inter-ministerial briefing on 24 March has provided some additional clarity following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement last night of a national lockdown.
Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane issued some information to assist tourism establishments in the interpretation of the President’s measures. Further advice will come through once travel regulations and the Government Gazettes are issued.
Tthere are still many questions regarding travellers from high-risk countries currently in the country.
Highlights of Kubayi-Ngubane’s speech:
1. Travellers currently in South Africa
- International travellers from high-risk countries who have entered the country since 9 March must be confined to a 14-day quarantine period in their hotels or other accommodation establishments (e.g. Airbnbs, lodges, bed and breakfasts, etc.)
- South African Tourism is requesting all establishments to keep a record and provide details of all guests on the Central Traveller Registry, including date of arrival, which areas they have visited, and date of departure from South Africa. This will help with tracing contacts and give a clearer country-view of where travellers are in the country at the moment.
- South African Tourism asks the sector to help reduce movement and requests that tourist attractions be closed or minimised. Tour operators and guides have a responsibility to help protect all South Africans and travellers by complying with the measures and limiting movement.
- Accommodation establishments and tour operators should ensure that when a guest departs their establishment, they are going directly to the airport for departure.
- All travellers will also be tested at the airports (OR Tambo, Cape Town and Durban) as they depart. While test results will only be available once the traveller has already arrived in their destination or home country, this information can be used to trace contacts and implement containment measures, as necessary. Travellers should allow additional time to be processed before they enter immigration.
2. Business relief
The National Department of Tourism has set aside an additional 200 million Rand to assist SMMEs in the tourism sector – specifically, those small businesses that are likely not to survive the impact of COVID-19 for longer than 3 months.
Some of the criteria include:
- SMMEs that do not exceed an annual turnover of 2,5 million
- Fully registered companies with CIPC
- Tax-compliant
- In business for more than a year
- Able to prove they are in distress directly due to COVID-19, and not struggling prior to the impact of COVID-19
NDT will assess the beneficiaries across the provinces and ensure that there is a balance of businesses owned and operated by youth, women, and different races. This will include accommodation, hospitality and related services, and travel and related services.
NDT will make more information available on their website about the criteria and procedure for accessing this fund. NDT’s call centre has extended its hours to help with travel- and tourism-related queries: 0860-TOURISM or 0860868747 and callcentre@tourism.gov.za.
3. Foreign Tourist Registry
Accommodation establishments and activities are still urged to add any international guests and customers to the registry that South African Tourism has started: https://www.southafrica.net/gl/en/trade/category/coronavirus-covid-19-south-african-tourism-update/central-traveller-registry-for-accommodation-establishments
Alan Straton
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