WESTERN CAPE NEWS - Tourism operators in the Western Cape have reported a generally good December season, with many local tourism offices and attractions seeing increased numbers, although the drought did have an impact.
Wesgro, the Western Cape government’s tourism marketing partner, conducted an informal survey of tourist offices across the province this week.
Minister of Economic Opportunities, Beverley Schäfer said: “Tourism is a key sector in the Western Cape, responsible for creating over 300 000 direct and indirect jobs. 2018 was a difficult year as a result of the drought, and the tight economic situation South African consumers found themselves in. Our focus is now on reminding tourists of everything this province offers in order for us to get this sector growing and thriving again.”
Schäfer said while she was pleased to see that additional resources had been allocated at passport control over the festive period, the lack of clarity regarding Visa regulations needed to be urgently addressed.
“There is mass confusion at the moment because a travel advisory issued by the Department of Home Affairs contradicts the relaxed Visa regulations regarding travelling with minor children, which were issued last year. Tourism is a major cornerstone of the South African economy and we cannot afford for this kind of confusion to happen. Home Affairs must act immediately to ensure that the Visa regulations which were gazetted are enacted and that all staff on the ground and airlines receive clear communication thereof.”
“We’ve seen the negative impact that Visa regulations have had on tourism in the past and we cannot allow the South African tourism brand to be further damaged by ongoing uncertainty,” she said.
Wesgro CEO, Tim Harris added: “It is clear that we still have a lot more to do to recover from the drought. The “Nowhere Does It Better” Campaign, which is a collaboration between the private and public sector, will help place the Western Cape back onto travellers’ consideration list, by showcasing the diversity and depth of experiences on offer. The reality is that there is nowhere else in the world that can make this offer, and we are going to make that clear in our key source markets.”
“As the research conducted is largely anecdotal - as there are still outstanding figures from the regions and key attractions - we cannot as of yet make a final statement on the overall performance of the province. We will continue to conduct research in the coming weeks to get a better picture,” concluded Harris.
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