Businesses in South Africa’s tourism industry are feeling bullish ahead of the peak summer season, spurred by increasing vaccination rates, growing numbers of international travellers and lower lockdown levels.
The industry which, according to data from Statistics South Africa, accounted for 4.5% of total employment in the country in 2018, has taken a beating since global Covid-19 lockdown restrictions and travel bans were implemented in March 2020. And despite strong support from local travel when restrictions eased later in the year, tourism operators were once again hard hit as the government put stringent restrictions in place last December to flatten the curve of the second wave.
But, as the mercury rises ahead of summer 2021, South African tourism operators say they have something to smile about. With around a third of adults vaccinated, and the country currently on lockdown level one, the tourism industry is on track for an improved peak season.
While…