EDITORIAL | SA tourism faces a long, potentially devastating journey

The tourism sector is set for a painful period that will extend well into next year and beyond, as the recovery in SA and globally is far from certain. 

The devastation of lockdown is not only being felt by hotels, B&Bs and their staff, but also by the many suppliers to the industry — those companies, some small operations, which supply linen and towels, food and booze, car rental companies, day-tour operators who take hotel guests on city walking tours or sunset cruises, and many more firms that rely on travellers. 

The tourism industry supports 1.5 million jobs and contributes 8.6% to GDP, according to the Tourism Business Council (TBC). 

Shopping precincts that tourists frequent are also hurting. 

Business Times recently reported that during a normal peak tourist season the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town receives about 80,000 visitors a day. Its current footfall is about 25,000 people a day during the week and 45,000 a day at weekends. Usually just under a third of visitors to the venue and its surrounds are foreign tourists. 

People have not forgotten the panic earlier this year of trying to get home from far flung destinations, with flights being rapidly cancelled and borders closing.

As SA approaches what should be the peak tourist season, the industry is waiting for more detail on which countries’ citizens will be permitted to travel to our shores. But even if those from colder climates are permitted to visit the country, will they? 

With restrictions rising in the UK and some European countries amid increasing infections, travellers are likely to holiday closer to home, in case they need to hotfoot it home in the event of a hard lockdown. People have not forgotten the panic earlier this year of trying to get home from far-flung destinations, with flights being rapidly cancelled and borders closed. So a long-haul destination such as SA may not appeal to those far north. 

We may benefit from travellers from the region, but neighbouring countries have their own beautiful attractions for those who want a holiday. 

And do consumers, foreign and local, have money to travel? And if not, will they have the means next year or will it again be a staycation? 

Euromonitor, in a note this week on the global travel sector, said the “industry will experience long-lasting domino aftermath shocks across the whole tourism value chain, with recovery timelines between five to 10 years for some categories” due to the Covid-19 crisis.

If the recovery is drawn out, many of those employed in the tourism sector could join the millions already unemployed in SA.