Omicron variant: S Africa establishes war room as travel ban hits peak tourism season


PTI, Dec 1, 2021, 8:20 AM IST

The South African government has established a war room to address the serious impact on the peak international tourism season that has been hit hard by the travel ban imposed by around 20 countries in the wake of the new coronavirus variant Omicron being discovered.

Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu convened an urgent meeting with stakeholders to proactively address how to mitigate the effects of the ban on the tourism sector.

“Today’s engagement was the first of many we will be holding as a public-private tourism sector War Room to deal with crises such as that experienced this week, as well as legacy issues that hinder the extent to which tourism can contribute to South Africa’s economy,” Sisulu said.

“Our War Room will be meeting on a regular basis to roll out and follow up on practical actions adopted by industry stakeholders to deal proactively with the obstacles and crises that our tourism and hospitality sector faces with the immediate priority to ensure that we preserve domestic tourism over this festive season to secure the livelihoods our sector supports.” Attending the session were key tourism industry associations, including the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, the Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (FEDHASA), Southern African Tourism Services Association, Southern African Association for the Conference Industry and Cape Town Tourism, as well as industry stakeholders who had been involved in the previous lobby for South Africa to be removed from the UK’s red list.

The United Kingdom had removed South Africa from its red list only six weeks ago and did so again Thursday night last week at short notice, ending flights from noon on Friday.

The stakeholders outlined how the red list announcement and consequent reaction from other governments had impacted their existing and future business as South Africa enters its peak inbound international tourism period.

President Cyril Ramaphosa, in an address on Sunday, described the travel ban as a “knee-jerk” reaction which was unfair and discriminatory, just because South African scientists had announced the discovery of Omicron first even while it already existed in several other countries as well.

Rosemary Anderson, National Chairperson of FEDHASA, concurred with this.

“To be locked down on a semi-regular basis and banned for international travel because of our advanced genomic sequencing capability and low vaccination rates cannot continue. We depend on tourism for jobs and livelihoods,” Anderson said.

Delegates said that while scientific certainty surrounding this new variant was awaited, the impact to brand South Africa and the deep tourism value chain has been devastating.

There was also a call for South Africans who had not yet been vaccinated to do so urgently as plans are put in place to boost domestic tourism.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Bengaluru Airport hosts Karnataka Rajyotsava celebration

Bengaluru Hubba to kickstart with folk dance performance by 500-member troupe

Karnataka cabinet clears bill to increase labour welfare corpus fund

Molestation case registered against Karnataka Cong general secretary Gurappa Naidu

Karkala: College student drowns at Durga falls 

Indian culture resonates globally: PM Modi

Hemant Soren takes oath as 14th CM of Jharkhand

Related Articles More

30 detained over killing of lawyer in clash between Bangladesh police, followers of jailed Hindu leader

‘Monks targetted by Islamist elements’: ISKCON Kolkata flags Bangladesh issue to Modi govt

Jaishankar says Indo-Pacific landscape calls for wider collaborative approach, terms G7 as partner for it

Will impose 25 per cent tariff on all imports from Canada, Mexico: Trump

Internal divisions leave open question whether Gandhi’s vision will ever be fully realised in India: Bill Clinton

MUST WATCH

Grafting

Coconut Flower

Prakash Belawadi

Naxal Leader Vikram Gowda

Christmas Cake Fruit Mixing


Latest Additions

Bengaluru Airport hosts Karnataka Rajyotsava celebration

Bengaluru Hubba to kickstart with folk dance performance by 500-member troupe

Karnataka cabinet clears bill to increase labour welfare corpus fund

Molestation case registered against Karnataka Cong general secretary Gurappa Naidu

Over 1,80,000 cases disposed off by exclusive POCSO courts: WCD

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.