SATSA WELCOMES NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM
SATSA WELCOMES NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM SAFETY INITIATIVES FOR TABLE MOUNTAIN
“We look forward to the roll out of concrete actions to safeguard tourists’ safety countrywide” – David Frost, CEO
SATSA has welcomed this morning’s announcement by Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane that the Department would be rolling out several initiatives as part of a Tourism Safety Awareness Campaign, aimed at improving tourism safety.
These include, said the minister, the deployment of tourism monitors at “key attractions” on Table Mountain National Park, cameras and drones, as well as a tourism safety app which will be “piloted in December 2019 to assist distressed tourists”.
“As the organisation which represents the interests of South Africa’s inbound tourism private sector, we welcome any meaningful initiatives that are aimed at ensuring tourists’ safety and enhancing the tourism experience of visitors that come to South Africa.
“It is essential that any plans, initiatives and strategies that are announced are put into concrete action plans and are implemented swiftly and proactively,” says David Frost, CEO SATSA.
SATSA has been working with the National Department of Tourism on its Tourism Safety Strategy. “We are looking forward to the strategy being rolled out in earnest and communicated widely to tourists and travel industry stakeholders locally and internationally, so we can assure them that the safety of our tourists is of utmost importance,” adds Frost.
Announcing the new initiatives, Tourism Minister Kubayi-Ngubane said that tourism safety had to be responded to if South Africa was to reach its target of 21 million international arrivals by 2030. “Tourism safety is key to ensuring this happens,” she said.
It’s important for travellers visiting South Africa to know that the country is grappling with crime and that this affects its citizens deeply, says Frost. “It is however also important that they understand that this means they could get caught up in the crime, but that does not mean they are targets thereof,” he says.
“Tourism areas remain largely unaffected by incidents and with the initiative announced by the Tourism Minister this morning, we are hopeful that this will further provide peace of mind that travellers will have an enjoyable and safe stay when visiting South Africa.”
As an industry body, SATSA is also working with Destination Marketing Organisations like Wesgro to create proactive awareness about the destination and what tourists can do to mitigate risk when they visit South Africa.
“In addition to rolling out concrete projects as a private sector that will assist with this, we have a duty to keep travellers informed about what they should look out for when visiting. As South Africans in general, we have to provide a welcoming environment for tourists.
“We believe that everyone in South Africa has a right to feel safe, not just tourists. What we would ask of our citizens is to take tourists under their wing and contribute to their experience in a meaningful way so that they return home and tell a positive South Africa story. The more tourists we have visiting, the more jobs we create and the greater contribution to South Africa’s economy, which benefits us all,” continues Frost.
According to David Maynier, Western Cape Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, the additional measures will strengthen tourism safety and contribute to building a strong and vibrant tourism sector, which already provides about 300,000 direct and indirect jobs in the Western Cape.
“The opportunities for tourism to contribute to South Africa’s economy and job creation are vast,” agrees Frost.
“We hold the key to unlocking these and would urge government to continue their efforts to roll out actual concrete actions to keep tourists safe and remove the barriers, such as stringent visa requirements for certain markets, that are blocking tourists from experiencing the undeniable value proposition of Destination South Africa,” says Frost.
“Once visitors make the decision to travel long-haul and visit South Africa, they are full of praise for the destination when they return home and become our greatest ambassadors. Can you imagine what we could achieve if we eliminated the barriers within our control?”
Frost concludes by saying that South Africa’s tourism industry is committed to delivering the trip of a lifetime for visitors who come to the destination. “We understand your concerns and you are right to be cautious – in fact when visiting any country or city in the world. However, we will do everything in our power to ensure you have a safe, memorable and life-changing trip.”
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