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<\/a>In a poorly worded media statement, Cape Town Tourism has appealed to local tourism players to get vaccinated, to enhance the safety of our tourism industry, and enhance the attractiveness of Cape Town as a safe tourist destination.<\/p>\nIt has also pleaded with the UK Government to remove SA from the \u2018red list\u2019, given that the Delta variant is now the main Covid threat, it no longer being the South African variant. <\/p>\n
The Cape Town Tourism media release follows:<\/p>\n
\u2018South Africa\u2019s borders are open to a number of international travellers, and the award-winning and very popular bucket-list destination, Cape Town, is ready to welcome all guests with open arms \u2013 as soon as countries and regions such as the United Kingdom remove South Africa from their \u2018red list\u2019 of travel destinations.<\/i><\/p>\n \u201cThe UK has taken steps and made decisions to effectively block their residents from travelling to South Africa and other African countries and regions,\u201d says Brett Hendricks, Chairperson of the Cape Town Tourism board. \u201cSATSA and other industry stakeholders are working hard to change this and to open up travel from what is one of our key source markets.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Several factors have played a role in South Africa\u2019s addition to the \u2018red list\u2019, most notably concerns around the efficacy of vaccines against the Beta variant, the slow start of our vaccine rollout, and South Africa\u2019s medical status and readiness. The labelling of variants based on their origin has also done immense damage to destination South Africa\u2019s reputation.<\/i><\/p>\n Despite the country\u2019s potential for travel in a COVID world and its popularity in international polls as a favourite destination for travellers craving its wide-open spaces, low-density travel experiences and good weather, regulations and restrictions hampering travel are only now slowly being lifted, with Germany being the latest country to open travel to South Africa for its vaccinated citizens.<\/i><\/p>\n In the case of the UK, industry bodies are doing all that they can to provide a soft landing for British politicians to call for the lifting of the \u2018red list\u2019 embargo and establish broad political support for that decision. To achieve this, the lobby has worked with South Africa\u2019s scientific and medical community to demonstrate the country\u2019s credibility and expertise.<\/i><\/p>\n \u201cAs per Stats SA, the UK topped the overseas visitor list for South Africa in both 2019 and 2020.<\/span> Close to 60% of the UK population are already fully vaccinated, with the end of the UK vaccination programme looking likely to coincide with the start of the tourist season in South Africa and, importantly, in Cape Town.<\/i><\/p>\n \u201cWe know there is pent-up demand for British travellers to visit Cape Town, but that current restrictions make this almost impossible and prohibitively expensive,\u201d says David Frost, CEO of SATSA.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe have been spearheading this campaign since May to provide a credible voice for UK-based politicians on the science, economic impact of the ban and impact to conservation and communities caused by the indefinite inclusion of South Africa on the UK\u2019s \u2018red list\u2019. The demand for travel to South Africa exists, and as the vaccination roll-out ramps up and South Africa\u2019s spring is around the corner, we are single-minded in our mission to have restrictions lifted in time for the next season.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n Frost continues: \u201cWe assure all travellers visiting our shores that we have put world-class health and hygiene protocols in place to ensure the safety of guests and staff. We have had over a year of robust domestic travel to ensure that tourism establishments and experiences are ready to welcome visitors to Cape Town and South Africa safely.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n For their part, the Cape Town tourism industry has taken safety incredibly seriously. Restaurants have changed seating plans, hotels have adapted to serve food in an entirely different way and have done away with buffet tables while also looking at ways to do digital check-ins. And gone are the days of congested queues at tourist attractions. In fact, many establishments have taken the opportunity to shake up their menus, elevate their outdoor offerings, upgrade certain facilities, and also focus on a digital approach that limits one-on-one contact. Visitors can therefore benefit not only from slick amenities and wide-open outdoor spaces but also on enjoying a holiday without the crowds.<\/i><\/p>\n \u201cWe are ready to welcome visitors! We just need to get off the \u2018red list\u2019 now. This is why we are throwing our voice and weight behind SATSA on its \u2018Red List\u2019 Lobbying Project,\u201d says Hendricks.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe need to work together to ensure that Cape Town and South Africa continue to be a desirable destination for all. We urge everyone who qualifies to please get vaccinated as soon as possible. We need everyone\u2019s help in making Cape Town a safe destination for all,\u201d he concludes.<\/i><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n 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\u00a0Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein @MyCapeTownGuide<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\nWe are hoping that these efforts allow South Africa to have a voice in the UK travel debate that is currently happening,\u201d notes Hendricks.<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n