South Africa prepares re-opening of tourism
Inbound international travel might still be a way off for South African tourism, but at last there's light at the end of the tunnel.
While the country remains very much in the grip of an unprecedented health crisis, things are slowly starting to change, and hope runs high in a country that relies on tourism for almost 3% of its GDP.
More important than that though, is the fact that over 1.5 million people are employed in this industry, with countless others relying indirectly on income from tourism.Dark skies for SA tourismIt’s been a long, hard road for game reserves, airlines, tour operators, and accommodation providers.Many have been unable to survive the unexpected shut down over the major Easter holiday season. Some have turned to alternative ways to survive by offering delivered meals, maintenance services, and accommodation for essential workers or quarantined patients.The country’s on-again-off-again national airline is thrashing around in shallow waters.
Smaller local carriers are limping along on what must be their last reserves and a small income from heavily discounted business flights.
