Africa’s most industrialized nation, South Africa has reopend it’s doors to the world. The recently concluded South African Investment Conference 2022 is a glaring evidence of this and desire for visitors to return.
President Cyril Ramaphosa eased most lockdown restrictions, including a curfew, after nearly two years. As a result, visitors have resumed their influx into the nation.
Following the identification of the omicron version, there has been a large number of flight cancellations. However, the doomsday scenarios projected by some analysts did not come to pass. Although the number of new infections increased significantly, hospitals were not overburdened.
The fourth wave appears to be dissipating. Many South Africans are expecting that this will be the start of the pandemic’s end.
New government laws state that people without symptoms may go about their daily lives without needing to be tested or isolated. Schools have likewise returned to usual, with no restrictions for social separation.
“The most recent international travel restrictions had a catastrophic effect on our peak international tourist season in the Western Cape,” Western Cape Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities David Maynier said of the impact on the tourism and hospitality sector.
He went further that, “I am delighted to report that foreign passenger arrivals are expected to improve in January 2022, and are already exhibiting indications of improvement as compared to December 2021. I’d also want to express my gratitude to fellow South Africans who visited our region throughout the festive season. Many of our tourist and hospitality firms, who have had a terrible two years, benefited from this.”
This is one part of the whole picture of Tourism in South Africa. Join us on today’s edition of Business Edge at 11am WAT, 12pmSAST and 1pm EAT.