South Africa has the capacity to contain the threat of severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars), and keep it from affecting the country’s tourism industry negatively, according to South African Tourism head Cheryl Carolus.
Briefing the media on Monday at the Tourism Indaba conference currently underway in Durban, government news agency BuaNews reports that Carolus said South Africa’s tourism industry and health authorities were working in tandem to monitor and evaluate the situation by education travellers visiting the country about the virus and by encouraging those in doubt to use the onsite testing facilities.
“We have some of the best medical facilities and professionals and have managed to deal with the other threats such as Ebola in the past. We are doing our best to keep Sars out of our country,” she stressed.
Though a Pretoria businessman who was suspected of carrying the virus has since died, there is no confirmation yet of the existence of Sars in South Africa.
It is estimated that worldwide Sars has thus far infected 6 234 people, with 435 deaths and 2 702 patients listed as “discharged or recovered”. The cases are mainly from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
The Chinese delegation cancelled its trip to South Africa to attend the Tourism Indaba due to travel restrictions in that country.
Turning to South Africa’s tourism success story, which saw the number of tourist arrivals surpass the 6-millon mark for the first time last year, Carolus cautioned that South Africa could not afford complacency.
The country experienced an overall tourist growth rate of 11%, with 24% growth from Europe and key African markets such as Botswana growing by 21,6%, and Nigeria up by 22,2%. Arrivals from Asia experienced 20,7% overall growth.
The challenge facing the country was to crack down on a “seasonality problem” to make South Africa a year-round destination, Carolus said.
“Now that we have tasted success and seen the benefits, we need to maintain momentum and growth,” she pointed out.
She reminded the industry the country was looking up to it to create sustainable jobs and to contribute to the economy, transformation and empowerment in South Africa.
Tourism is one of the five key growth areas identified for economic growth and job creation, and contributed over R30-billion to the economy in 2001. -I-Net Bridge