How much more can our tourism industry take? Arguably, the sectors affected most by the Covid-19 pandemic over the past two years have been tourism and hospitality and it has been a problem the world over and not just in South Africa.
Some 200,000 hospitality workers in SA have been affected by ongoing Covid health and travel restrictions that are lifted, reinstated the next day and removed again the following day (not quite, but you catch our drift).
We’ve lost unimaginable amounts of money due to cancellations and travel restrictions with the omicron variant accounting for as much as R9 billion in cancellations alone. And just as the sector begins to show signs of positive recovery there are already predictions for when the fifth wave of Covid infections might hit our shores.
Only a third of establishments have said that business has returned to pre-covid levels, but most remain optimistic that this year they will see a positive upturn in business.
Yesterday came yet another punch to the sector as South Africa’s crown jewel in our tourism trophy cabinet, the Blue Train, had its service suspended until further notice (for subscribers) following a recent fire and a derailment last year.
The Blue Train is considered one of the world’s most luxurious trains and is known for its 1,600 km Cape Town to Johannesburg route. It spent most of 2020 off the track and returned later that year servicing mostly South African clients.
A year later and the train derailed at the Union Station Loop in Germiston on November 7, luckily no one was injured. Fast forward and on Monday the train service was suspended after one of the coaches went up in flames on February 8 with one person apprehended thus far.
“Due to safety considerations the business has taken the decision to suspend the Blue Train operations to conduct a full analysis following the recent unfortunate incidents that have befallen the Blue Train,” Transnet, the body responsible for the Blue Train, said in a statement.
How many more body blows can our tourism industry take? Think of the employees who won’t be getting salaries and the decaying infrastructure that cannot be serviced and maintained due to a lack of income from foreign currency wielding tourists.
We need to ensure that our tourism industry is returned to its former glory. It’s the best advertisement for investment into South Africa that we’ve got.
Here’s a roundup of interesting opinions, analyses, and editorials:
Ramaphosa may have new energy, but he’s set himself up to fail. Here’s why – Carol Paton, Fin24 (for subscribers)
A centralised government: Cyril Ramaphosa is blurring the lines – Ralph Mathekga, News24 (for subscribers)
Why Cyril’s 100 days vow fills me with optimism – Tom Eaton, Business Day (for subscribers)
The JSC has always had a sexism problem – Tanveer Jeewa, New Frame
The JSC train wreck has been long in the making — the commission needs an urgent and complete overhaul – Anthony Norton, Daily Maverick
Restructured SA economy must include a comprehensive social policy – Vusi Gumede, Mail & Guardian
Image: Wikimedia Commons
