JOHANNESBURG, (The Southern African Times) – South Africa commemorated World Tourism Day Monday with a call for all to work toward reviving the sector which has been hit hard by COVID-19.
Deputy Minister of Tourism Fish Mahlalela invited everyone in the country to join the government to support the revival of tourism, which is the one of the major contributors to the gross domestic product of the country.
Mahlalela said they have a tourism recovery plan designed in consultation with the private sector.
“The tourism industry is ready for a reset. This plan is anchored on three interlinked pillars or strategic themes: protecting and rejuvenating supply, reigniting demand and strengthening enabling capability for long term sustainability,” he said. “The tourism industry is of great significance and potential to South Africa and is one of the six key sectors of economic growth.”
The official suggested that people get the vaccination as soon as possible so as to reach the herd immunity and open the economic activities.
Yvonne Mlozana, an official from Women in Tourism (WiT) Program which is an initiative that propels and supports the development and empowerment of women in the tourism sector, called for collaboration to grow the sector, saying that even though the sector was mostly impacted by COVID-19, they hope that it will bounce back.
The World Tourism Day is commemorated worldwide on Sept. 27.
