Find government COVID 19 information at https://sacoronavirus.co.za
Home
FacebookTwitterSearchMenu
  • Subscribe (free)
  • Subscribe (free)
  • News
  • Features
  • TravelInfo
  • Columns
  • Community
  • Sponsored
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Advertise
    • Send Us News

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • E-mail
  • Print

‘Domestic tourism is key to resilience of sector’ – report

08 Apr 2021 - by Adele Mackenzie
Comments | 0

Domestic tourism remains key to the resilience of the tourism sector, showing only a 10-60% reduction between August and December, as opposed to the 80-100% reduction in international tourism.

This is according to SA Tourism’s Road to Recovery Volume 2 report published this month.

The report highlights that domestic tourism resumed in late July 2020, and since then South Africa has seen total overnight trips recover, but only up to levels approximately 50% lower than in 2019.

Spikes of holiday travel occurred during October and business travel spiked in September and November. Overnight trips to visit friends and family (VFR) spiked shortly after domestic travel was opened, mostly likely as a result of accumulated demand during lockdown.

However, the effects of the second wave of COVID-19 infections and the associated regulations can be seen in the contraction in tourism which occurred during December, with total trips tapering to 60% lower than the year before.

The report shows that demand for day trips also still remains low, with most months seeing up to a 50% reduction in day trips taken.

“However, these trips contribute the most trips to the domestic tourism landscape. There is, therefore, significant potential for stimulating the tourism sector by resuming both overnight and day trips,” says ceo of SA Tourism, Sisa Ntshona.

 

Transport patterns

According to the report, domestic airline travel closely mimics domestic travel patterns, showing a persistent reduction of between 50% and 80%. The recovery in domestic air travel, is, however, almost double that of regional and international air travel.

Sisa says this indicates that the current reliance of the sector is skewed towards domestic movement.

In contrast, the number of light motor vehicles moving through toll gates across the country has steadily increased since April last year.

The report shows that since September, the number of light vehicles on the roads has only been 10% and 20% lower than in 2019, indicating a preference for road travel as opposed to air.

 

Vax roll-out important

He adds that the recovery in international tourism recovery will strongly depend on the pandemic’s trajectories, travel restrictions, and vaccination developments.

“There is thus major risk in expecting that international travel will tangibly return during 2021. Instead, we as a sector and a community will continue working to seize the gap to re-imagine and redefine the role that domestic and regional tourism can play in the sector’s recovery,” says Sisa.

“Continued adherence to the strictest, world-class health protocols, and the promotion of South Africa’s diverse and affordable destinations to domestic and regional travellers will remain priorities for the industry.”

In SA’s February budget, the government announced a free mass vaccination campaign, for which R9bn has been allocated over the next two years.

“As this campaign rolls out and similar campaigns in priority source markets gain pace, South Africa will stand ready to welcome global travellers once again,” says Sisa.

Tourists get the jab in Maldives

Today 01:50
Comments | 0

A new interim ceo for SAA

Yesterday
Comments | 0

Israel cracks open the tourism door

Yesterday
Comments | 0

Flexibility, bubbles – this is the new group travel

Yesterday
Comments | 0

Letter to the Editor: How do we carry on?

Yesterday
Comments | 0

Latest Changes on Travelinfo (15 Apr'21)

Yesterday
Comments | 0

Third wave a new threat to Europe’s airlines

15 Apr 2021
Comments | 0

El Al to restart SA operations

15 Apr 2021
Comments | 0

Rugby Rainbow Cup will go ahead

15 Apr 2021
Comments | 0

More Paris flights

15 Apr 2021
Comments | 0

Investment conference highlights need for blanket travel rules

15 Apr 2021
Comments | 0

Latest Changes on Travelinfo (14 Apr'21)

15 Apr 2021
Comments | 0

New UK travel rules from mid-May

14 Apr 2021
Comments | 0

Webinar: TBCSA tackles UIF challenges

14 Apr 2021
Comments | 0

G Adventures recapitalised

14 Apr 2021
Comments | 0

Virgin Hotels expands to Scotland

14 Apr 2021
Comments | 0

New seasonal photo camp for Okavango

14 Apr 2021
Comments | 0

Latest Changes on Travelinfo (13 Apr'21)

14 Apr 2021
Comments | 0

Salary catastrophe continued in March

13 Apr 2021
Comments | 0

Comair cranks up holidays division

13 Apr 2021
Comments | 0

Africa has its own aviation challenges

13 Apr 2021
Comments | 0
  • Load more

FeatureClick to view

Travel Technology Feature April 2021
  • © Now Media
  • Privacy Policy
  • Travel News on Facebook
  • eTNW Twitter
  • Travel News RSS
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Send Us News