SA tourism showing signs of recovery

• Published date: 19 May 2022
• Publication title: South African Official News

The tourism sector, which was brought to a halt due to COVID-19 restrictions, is showing signs of recovery with an indicator being the increase in international arrivals.

This is according to Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu who tabled the department's budget vote to a mini-plenary of the National Assembly on Thursday.

'According to ACSA, air travel to and from South Africa has reached its highest levels of activity since the COVID-19 pandemic - almost 2.3 million through OR Tambo, Cape Town, Durban in March - up 70% from the previous year.

'Recovery is being bolstered by international arrivals,' she said.

Sisulu said South Africa was among those African destinations that experienced the biggest declines in arrivals in 2021: 78% down when compared to 2019, while countries in East Africa were not as deeply affected.

'Cape Town International Airport's total passenger activity had increased to 66% of levels last seen in the first quarter of 2019.

'January and February this year saw strong growth in arrivals from the UK, Netherlands, Australia, Germany, Switzerland - 549% up in 2022 versus 2021 from our top 10 source markets (Stats SA).'

Sisulu said as a result, international airlines can't keep up with the demand for travel to and from South Africa, resulting in stubbornly high airfares made even worse by...