The Western Cape Provincial Government says the tourism and hospitality sector has recorded a cancellation of bookings at more than 50% for December 2021.
This is after some countries imposed a travel ban on South Africa because of the newly detected coronavirus variant, Omicron.
A provincial Economic Development and Tourism Department’s survey has found that businesses in the Garden Route, Cape Town and the Cape Winelands expect their revenues to decline by more than 50% as a result of the ban.
The province has embarked on a campaign to lobby foreign governments through their Consulates to have the bans lifted.
Impact on tourism
Following the imposed travel ban, some business and tourism groups are calling for measures that have the least economic damage.
Business For SA (B4SA) is calling for restricted access to public areas for unvaccinated individuals to avoid harsher restrictions for all.
The organisation says the country cannot afford another hard lockdown.
Briefing the media on Monday, B4SA chair Martin Kingston urged government to move fast to restrict access to certain areas for people who are not vaccinated:
President of Business Unity South Africa Bonang Mohale and Acting CEO of South African Tourism Sthembiso Dlamini discuss threats that the Omicron variant could have on tourism and hospitality in SA:
-Additional reporting by SABC News
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