Tourism Minister Nkhensani Kubayi-Ngubane addressed the nation this evening, in a short fast half hour presentation, explaining the regulations pertaining to the Level 3 regulations for the Tourism industry. While the focus in Level 3 is on the Domestic market, and on Business Tourism only, the Minister said that the Tourism Industry should be opening up at all levels, including international tourism, from December 2020 onwards!

This is a summary of the points she made:

1.  The past two months have been difficult for the industry, with job losses of up to 600000 at risk by September.
2.  In opening up sectors of the Tourism industry, measures must be in place to protect employees, suppliers, and tourists.
3. The Tourism Relief Fund applications for once-off grants of R50000 close tomorrow, 31 May. The accommodation sector represents the largest number of applications.
4. Tourist Guides have been left out of the Relief funding, being independent free-lance operators. The Minister announced a R30 million package of relief for registered Tourist Guides in the next two to three months.
5. Tourist Guides may operate in Level 3, and must be supplied with Personal Protective Equipment, to be supplied by whom not specified.
6. Restaurants are allowed a Delivery, Collection, and Drive-Through Service, without Sit-Down, and if licensed, may sell alcohol.
7. Submissions are being prepared for a sit-down Restaurant Service.
8. Tourism Professional Services are open for business in Level 3, Tourist Guides, Tour Operators, Travel agents, and related Tourism training bodies.
9. Private and public game reserves may reopen, but only on a self-drive basis in one’s own province.
10. Hiking is allowed, but not in Groups, and within the Exercise time band of 6h00 – 18h00.
11. Accommodation may only open for Business purposes, linked to Essential Services, no leisure accommodation being allowed. No permit is required, but inspectors of the Department of Tourism will be visiting establishments. Details of local Business Travellers must be recorded. Quarantine use of accommodation is also permitted, but must be approved as such a facility by the Department of Health.
12. Hunting is allowed, a R2 billion industry the Minister said.
13. Not allowed to open are Casinos, Conference venues, and Entertainment venues.
14. No cross-border leisure travel is allowed.
15. Domestic commercial flights for non-Leisure purposes is not allowed.
16. The Tourism industry was requested to follow a responsible approach to prevent the spread of the Virus infection.
17. The Department of Tourism, with SA Tourism, is working on how the Domestic Tourism sector can recover, followed by the International Sector, to get the industry visitor numbers and revenues back to its pre-Covid Level.

The Minister concluded with the message that the Tourism industry will ‘only fully recover by December’.

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein

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