Tourism has the potential to reignite South Africa’s ailing economy, but to do so, it requires more than support from South Africans, not least government giving the green light for reopening the country's borders, says umbrella body the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA).

Citing the latest gross domestic product data, released on September 8, the organisation says that this puts a spotlight on measures that will need to be swiftly put in place to aid South Africa’s ailing economy, which prior to Covid-19 was already in the doldrums. 

“Tourism is known to have the ability to sustainably breath new air into the sails of any economy as touted by analysts and economists and this has been stated by the South African government itself,” it says.

TBCSA notes that professional services firm PWC’s Public and Private Growth Initiative (PPGI) Report for 2019 indicates that tourism is the number one industry in South Africa with the greatest potential to stimulate inclusive economic growth and employment, creating the greatest multiplier effect – in terms of jobs, growth and export potential. 

The organisation says tourism requires targeted economic stimulation and favourable policy decisions for it to flourish and become a jobs multiplier.

Tourism’s contribution to employment is already estimated to be larger than the individual contributions of agriculture, automotive manufacturing, chemical manufacturing, and mining, with some 1.5-million people employed directly and indirectly through the sector, it notes.

Tourism also generated R120-billion in foreign exchange from visitor receipts in 2018, adding up to about 8.7% of South Africa’s exports – second only to mining.

Further, as an apex sector, it has a long and deep supply chain into industries such as vehicle manufacturing, agriculture, fuel, and other manufacturing. For every R1 of direct GDP impact, R1.50 is spent on supply chain and capital, noted the organisation.

“Tourism can be South Africa’s economic lifeline, but only if international borders are opened up soon.

"We are appealing to the government to safely open our borders. Our industry is ready, our source markets are waiting to travel, so let's save jobs and the economy,” says TBCSA CEO Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa.

The TBCSA’s Travel Safe-Eat Safe protocols and programme, endorsed by the World Travel and Tourism Council, have been rolled out widely across the tourism sector to ensure the safe reopening of the industry, noted the organisation.

TBCSA says that while stakeholders agree that the reprieve granted by domestic travel will provide a lifeline, it cannot be the industry’s lifeblood sustainably.

“An opening date is critical if tourism is to reignite South Africa’s economy, not only to ensure that international trade can plan ahead, but also so that airlines can retain South Africa on their schedules.

"If airlines take the decision to redeploy their aircraft or reduce their schedules, this will have a direct impact not only on tourism, but also trade,” it states.

“The safe reopening of South Africa’s borders is an essential step for tourism to contribute meaningfully to government’s tax revenues. Every day we remain closed to international travel, we lose R336-million of spend and the government loses vital tax revenue.

"Opening up our tourism sector will have a direct and immediate positive impact on government’s coffers at a time when it most needs it,” Tshivhengwa says.