Crikey - SA objects to Aussie travel advisory
South Africa has taken strong exception to a “misleading” and “image tarnishing” travel advisory issued via the government of Australia.
International Relations and Cooperation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu is planning to raise government concerns about the advisory with her Australian counterpart‚ Minister Julie Bishop.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) said on Wednesday that the travel advice “contains misleading information about South Africa in general and‚ in particular‚ about the experiences of foreign tourists visiting South Africa”.
TimesLIVE reported on Tuesday how the Australian government’s department of foreign affairs and trade cautioned tourists about murder‚ rape‚ car hijackings‚ civil unrest‚ water shortages‚ spiked drinks‚ drunk drivers and terrorism in South Africa.
These were just a few of the horrors that could be encountered by people heading to South Africa‚ according to travel advisory website smartraveller.gov.au which urged visitors to exercise a “high degree of caution” in South Africa.
“The travel advisory has the potential not only to deter Australians from visiting South Africa‚ but also to tarnish our country's image‚” said a statement on Wednesday by Dirco.
“Officials from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation have in the past requested‚ without success‚ that the advisory be amended to reflect the situation in South Africa as it relates to the true experiences of foreign tourists. The decision to escalate the matter follows these unsuccessful attempts and indicates the seriousness with which the South African government values the contribution of the tourism sector to the economy.”
Sisulu added: “South Africa remains one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world‚ and tourists in most instances have pleasant experiences of our country.”
The advisory spoke of attacks on hikers‚ rampant crime‚ excessive speed and poor driving skills on the road and even the threat of terrorism in South Africa.