TBCSA welcomes government’s decision to keep SA on COVID-19 alert level one lockdown

The Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) has welcomed government’s decision to keep the country on COVID-19 alert level one lockdown – saying the sector is relying on local customers to stay afloat amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

It comes as several countries restrict travel to and from a number of southern African nations due to concerns of the new Omicron variant – however, President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for the bans to be urgently lifted.

President Ramaphosa slams the travel restrictions isolating Southern Africa

TBCSA’s CEO is Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa says government’s decision to keep  South Africa on alert lockdown level one is a balanced approach.

“We have been lobbying to ensure the country remains where it is. It comes as international countries ban South Africans and travel to SA, limiting travel for us. So banning or disrupting it would not have worked in our favour and would have destroyed what is left of the tourism industry. So we do welcome the move. We think it is a balanced approach and we do have the tools to deal with COVID.”

The tourism sector is concerned by the emergence of the  COVID -19 Omicron variant: Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa