Ntombekhaya Zibi
Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane on Wednesday said South Africa could not afford to risk allowing international travel on level two.
As the South African tourism industry opens up domestically, travelling abroad is still prohibited.
The minister gave details of the new tourism regulations that are allowed under level 2 of the national lockdown.
Many businesses in the tourism sector said it would be a major boost if tourists were allowed into the country.
But Kubayi-Ngubane said government would make an announcement only when the country was ready for that.
“Government asses the risk to see whether the risk is high. When the risk is high, more restrictions are put. When the risk is low, then the restrictions are lowered.”
Kubayi-Ngubane mentioned that the sector hopes things would change for the better in the coming months.
“Our wish is to say, as we come in the following either weeks or months, we should be able to see our international tourism activities coming both inbound and up bound.”
All accommodation venues are now allowed to operate across the country and must always comply with the COVID-19 regulations.
