Diversity of offerings will distinguish SA’s tourism sector among its global competitors when it ultimately opens to visitors.
This is according to tourism minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, who spoke a day after the sector opened its doors to local travellers.
Kubayi-Ngubane said the department has started analysing the global market to see what “future travellers” would prefer in a tourist destination. She said preliminary analysis showed that today’s travellers are cautious due to the prevalence of Covid-19 in some countries.
“What they are looking for is a country that offers diversity of products. For example, if they want to go to the sea they are able to do that. They want nature reserves; we are able to give that. Because of our diversity in our product, you could be either an adventurer or someone who loves romance or you are an active person that likes sport. We do have all that in terms of our product. We are comfortable in terms of our product as a destination to be able to sell it to the global market,” Kubayi-Ngubane said.
She said the availability of the coast, wildlife and conference facilities would enable SA to offer a product suitable for different age and income groups. These include people travelling as singles, couples with children, senior citizens, sports lovers and business travellers.
The tourism sector has been on its knees since the beginning of the national lockdown on March 26. Some businesses in the sector have closed for good while others hung in there with the hope that the economy would be opened soon.
On Tuesday, the government allowed local tourists to travel freely in the country from one province to another. However, borders are still closed to international visitors. Many tourism businesses have reduced their prices to entice the local tourism market for the first time in almost five months.
Kubayi-Ngubane said while the department is preparing for the opening of SA's borders, it is still taking things “one step at a time”.
The tourism department has already published a recovery plan which includes a global marketing programme targeting potential markets to reignite international demand. In the coming week, inputs on the recovery plan will be consolidated before the strategy is presented to cabinet.
Tourism Business Council of SA is estimating that it will take between two to three years for the sector to go back to its 2019 numbers.
Kubayi-Ngubane said all facilities have an obligation to keep records of their visitors, practice social distancing, wearing of masks and sanitising.
“All of our facilities must adhere to the 10pm curfew. We request South Africans that you are not going to be found on the streets because you come from a restaurant at 10pm. Minister [Bheki] Cele will be on the street waiting for you,” she said.
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