“There is simply no greater risk for transmission of the Covid-19 virus based on the purpose of travel, yet the negative impact of continuing to limit the entry of leisure travellers to SA, especially from our key source markets, is severe and extreme,” said Maynier.
“International markets are a key economic driver for the tourism sector in the province, and so the full reopening of our borders to leisure travellers, with stringent health protocols in place ahead of the summer season is absolutely critical to the sector’s immediate recovery, medium-term stability, and long-term survival.”
Maynier said the tourism sector was a major contributor to the economy and employment in the country and the Western Cape.
“In 2019 international tourism contributed R81.2bn in total foreign direct spend — excluding capital expenditure — in SA,” he said.
“Leisure travellers from key source markets such as the UK, US, Netherlands, and France make the most of our favourable exchange rate and have a high spending potential which positively impacts our local economy.”
Western Cape calls for change in international travel rules — Here are 10 things it's suggesting
Image: 123RF / Iakovenko
The Western Cape government has written a letter to co-operative governance and traditional affairs minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, asking her to review the national government’s international travel regulations.
The regulations were put in place by the government on September 30, a day before international borders were reopened. The current regulations allow business travellers from high-risk countries to enter SA with a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, but not leisure travellers.
The test result should not be older than 72 hours from the time business travellers depart from their country of origin to enter SA.
According to the Western Cape’s provincial minister of finance and economic opportunities David Maynier, the regulations make no sense and are unfair.
“There is simply no greater risk for transmission of the Covid-19 virus based on the purpose of travel, yet the negative impact of continuing to limit the entry of leisure travellers to SA, especially from our key source markets, is severe and extreme,” said Maynier.
“International markets are a key economic driver for the tourism sector in the province, and so the full reopening of our borders to leisure travellers, with stringent health protocols in place ahead of the summer season is absolutely critical to the sector’s immediate recovery, medium-term stability, and long-term survival.”
Maynier said the tourism sector was a major contributor to the economy and employment in the country and the Western Cape.
“In 2019 international tourism contributed R81.2bn in total foreign direct spend — excluding capital expenditure — in SA,” he said.
“Leisure travellers from key source markets such as the UK, US, Netherlands, and France make the most of our favourable exchange rate and have a high spending potential which positively impacts our local economy.”
Maynier said he sent the letter to Dlamini-Zuma with an attached submission detailing an alternative approach to safely open international travel in a way that avoids confusion and uncertainty.
The submission proposes the following:
TimesLIVE
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