South Africa’s tourism sector may have already lost an estimated R54.2 billion in output in just three months as Covid-19 travel and leisure restrictions batter the industry.Furthermore, Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane has revealed that the sector now faces a potential 75% revenue reduction in 2020, putting a further R149.7 billion in output, 438 000 jobs and R80.2 billion in foreign receipts at risk.
“The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development has listed South Africa as one of the top 15 countries that are being the most negatively impacted by the near-closure of the international travel industry during the pandemic. Unfortunately, the noise of the naysayers confused and discouraged even those who qualified for the grant not to apply because they were being told that the relief was specifically for black people. This was not true. We have received many letters of appreciation from patriotic South Africans, black and white,” she said.Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane said her department is working with stakeholders to put together a recovery plan which will be submitted to cabinet in August.