TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT BY JESSIE TAYLOR
Restriction free travel FEDHASA lobbies for tourism growth
N
ew regulations have made it easier for travellers to visit South Africa – a welcome relief to the tourism and hospitality sectors. The sectors suffered significant losses due to the pandemic. The relaxed restrictions have been welcomed by the Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (FEDHASA), an organisation that represents the interests of the sector by lobbying the government and influencing policy decisions. However, there is still work to be done to get the industry back on its feet. IMPACTED BY THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC The measures imposed by the South African government to reduce the spread of the coronavirus included closing borders, in line with international practice, and issuing a travel ban on several high-risk countries. South Africa did not receive visitors for a period of six months from April to September 2020.
This had a significant impact on the South African tourism industry: The tourism sector’s direct contribution to GDP dropped from 6.9% in 2019 to 3.7% in 2020 and the travel restrictions saw tourist arrivals sharply decline. According to a report by Statistics South Africa, foreign arrivals dropped by 71% between 2019 and 2020. The World Travel and Tourism Council found that domestic tourism dropped by 43%. However, the industry has shown signs of recovery. Statistics South Africa recorded a year-on-year increase of more than 150% between July 2020 and July 2021. But this recovery will only be sustained if travel regulations continue to be sustained. Rosemary Anderson, National Chairperson of FEDHASA, says: “Government also needs to realise that hospitality and tourism are being stymied by government policies, inefficiencies and red tape such as the slow
36 | Public Sector Leaders | May 2022
processing of licences which directly impacts our ability to create jobs. The biggest obstacle to tourism creating new jobs is this.” A CALL FOR THE FURTHER EASING OF RESTRICTIONS One policy that is currently hindering the tourism sector, FEDHASA says, is the testing of international travellers visiting South Africa. The National State of Disaster recently came to end, after being implemented for 750 days. The State of Disaster allowed the government to take extraordinary measures to reduce the spread and impact of COVID-19 and saw several laws promulgated, including mandatory maskwearing, prohibiting sales and implementing curfews. The latest regulations, which will stay in place under the National Health Act, include wearing a facemask in indoor public spaces
