A campaign has been launched with the goal of boosting the tourism sector’s activity and the nation’s economy.
To kick off the domestic tourism campaign, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), in collaboration with South African Tourism and the Tourism Business Council of South Africa Tourism, has gathered a select group of hotels, airlines, and tour operators.
The COVID-19 campaign follows that whose effects are thought to have cost the industry R54.2 billion in revenue between mid-March 2020 and the end of May 2021.
Over 438 000 employment would be impacted by a revenue decrease of 75% for the sector in 2020.
Prior to the global pandemic, inbound tourism contributed around R82.5 billion in direct foreign spend (a total of R126.7 billion), accounting for 9.2% of GDP (GDP). This made tourism the second-largest export industry in the economy in 2018. Another R9.49 billion in direct spending was generated by domestic tourism.
“We recognise the importance of this sector to the country’s economic recovery and job creation prospects. Prior to the on-set of the Covid-19 pandemic, the numbers confirm the importance of the sector in relation to GDP contribution. The subsequent economic lockdowns significantly disrupted the growth momentum in the sector,” said IDC CEO Tshokolo Nchocho.
He continued by saying that the primary goal of the IDC’s travel campaign is to inspire South Africans to discover their own “backyard” and to support the growth and resuscitation of the travel and tourism industry.
Travelers can take advantage of the campaign to book vacation and leisure travel at a large discount of up to 35 percent to specific locations distributed around the nation.
“We are delighted to present South Africans with an opportunity to explore the many tourism products that our country has to offer, and this is more important especially as we emerge from economic lockdowns and travel bans imposed at the height of the pandemic from May 2020 up to August last year.
“We are hopeful that this campaign will also help the sector recover some of the jobs lost during lockdowns,” Nchocho said.
Nchocho reaffirmed the IDC’s dedication to the industry, stating that the company will keep up its initiatives to promote the domestic tourism sector through a variety of well-planned interventions.
The IDC proposed a funding plan shortly after COVID-19 reached SA’s shores, ring-fencing R250 million from the COVID-19 Relief fund to support IDC investee companies in the sector.
“As the economy opens up, we anticipate an increase in local travel across South Africa. Our investment in this initiative demonstrates our confidence in the tourism sector as a key contributor to South Africa’s economy,” he added.
To register for this offer, go to www.saishome.co.za.