The regulations gazetted last week by the Dept of Health add additional unnecessary obstacles to the tourism, travel and hospitality sectors and their growth in South Africa. It is clear that government has a concerted plan to retain the dominating control it currently enjoys under the state of disaster, beyond the state of disaster. It is an attempt to keep the state of disaster forever and in perpetuity, by stealth.
This is clear when analysing these regulations. Restrictions that have, over time, been shown to be ineffective in countering COVID-19, are included in these regulations. An example is the requirement by any traveller leaving South Africa to have in their possession a valid vaccination certificate or negative PCR test not more than 72 hours before departure, regardless of the requirements of their destination country. The same imposition exists for travellers entering the country.
These illogical and unnecessary regulations have a direct impact on tourism as more and more potential tourists find these regulations too expensive and onerous. As a result, they choose other destinations, where it is easier and simpler to enter.
This means that the resuscitation of the South African tourism and travel sector cannot take place. Existing tourism businesses cannot work at surviving again and those that had closed due to the job-killing lockdown cannot attempt to reopen. The government’s lack of urgency is contributing to the unemployment rate.
Manny de Freitas MP
Member of Parliament of the Republic of South Africa
Shadow Minister of Tourism
