President Biden announced earlier this week by proclamation that the USA will lift its ban on travel into the USA from South Africa and its neighbouring countries from tomorrow, reports News24.

South Africa and its neighbours were banned by numerous countries after its scientists shared the detection of the new Omicron variant at the end of November.

The USA follows the UK, Australia, and a handful of other countries which have lifted their travel bans instituted against Southern Africa almost world-wide at the end of November.  The European Union and Germany in particular are still holding back on lifting their travel bans.

President Biden stated that he was lifting the Travel Ban on the advice of the USA Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, his country’s and our researchers and scientists having made ‘substantial progress in understanding the Omicron variant’.

 Travelers from South Africa, Malawi, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini (the former Swaziland), and Mozambique will be allowed back into the USA from tomorrow.

Every Travel Ban lifted is a step forward for the beleaguered South African tourism and hospitality industries. A blessing is that our President Ramaphosa has not instituted any stricter regulations for New Year’s Eve, with the industry calling for  a lifting of the Curfew in general, and for tomorrow in particular.

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.whaletalesblog.com www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein, My Cape Town Guide/Mein Kapstadt Guide Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein @MyCapeTownGuide