SA is geared towards international visitors, so domestic market cannot compensate
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Lisa Krohn’s Ashanti Lodge in Cape Town — normally abuzz with backpackers from around the world — today sits largely empty, a sign of how the pandemic has crushed SA's tourist industry.
“This place is like a morgue,” she said, contemplating the Victorian-era building's deserted foyer.
Following a five-month lockdown, SA is easing domestic travel restrictions, allowing hotels to reopen. With international borders still closed, the government is pinning its hopes on domestic tourism, echoing a strategy being tried from Vietnam to New Zealand with mixed results.
SA remains among the countries hardest hit by the pandemic however. And with recession-battered consumers watching their wallets, many in the sector foresee an uphill battle.
“When your tourism industry is all geared towards international tourism, domestic tourism will not compensate,” said Olivier Ponti, vice-president at ForwardKeys, which studies global travel trends. “It's just impossible.”
Abundant wildlife, stunning scenery and renowned vineyards have made SA one of the world's big long-haul travel destinations, establishing tourism as a pillar of the economy.
In 2019, it welcomed more than 10-million international visitors. SA Tourism, the sector's marketing agency, was targeting 8.7% year-on-year growth in inbound arrivals in 2020 with total tourist spending projected to reach R273bn.
But Covid-19 brought the sector to a screeching halt as governments closed borders and imposed lockdowns.
“It isn't just a reduction in income, it's been zero income,” said Lisa Goosen, CEO of Tintswalo, which operates high-end lodges and boutique hotels.
Of tourism businesses responding to a government survey, 64% were unable to service their debts in May and 67% could not meet fixed costs. Many businesses have laid off staff or slashed wages. Others have gone bust.
SA Tourism says nearly 440,000 tourism jobs are at risk in 2020. The sector is expected to lose 75% of projected revenues and R80bn in foreign receipts.
A lost season?
With South Africans now permitted to travel between provinces for the first time since March, tourist-focused businesses are pivoting to domestic customers to stay afloat.
To keep the lights on, Krohn's Ashanti Lodge had begun renting rooms long-term to locals needing cheap accommodation. Now, hotels and guest houses like hers are rushing to put together “city break” offers.
Tintswalo has slashed prices 50% for “staycation” deals at properties such as its five-star hotels in Cape Town and luxury safari lodges previously frequented by Americans and Europeans.
Restaurants on the city's waterfront are ...
“This place is like a morgue,” she said, contemplating the Victorian-era building's deserted foyer.
Following a five-month lockdown, SA is easing domestic travel restrictions, allowing hotels to reopen. With international borders still closed, the government is pinning its hopes on domestic tourism, echoing a strategy being tried from Vietnam to New Zealand with mixed results.
SA remains among the countries hardest hit by the pandemic however. And with recession-battered consumers watching their wallets, many in the sector foresee an uphill battle.
“When your tourism industry is all geared towards international tourism, domestic tourism will not compensate,” said Olivier Ponti, vice-president at ForwardKeys, which studies global travel trends. “It's just impossible.”
Abundant wildlife, stunning scenery and renowned vineyards have made SA one of the world's big long-haul travel destinations, establishing tourism as a pillar of the economy.
In 2019, it welcomed more than 10-million international visitors. SA Tourism, the sector's marketing agency, was targeting 8.7% year-on-year growth in inbound arrivals in 2020 with total tourist spending projected to reach R273bn.
But Covid-19 brought the sector to a screeching halt as governments closed borders and imposed lockdowns.
“It isn't just a reduction in income, it's been zero income,” said Lisa Goosen, CEO of Tintswalo, which operates high-end lodges and boutique hotels.
Of tourism businesses responding to a government survey, 64% were unable to service their debts in May and 67% could not meet fixed costs. Many businesses have laid off staff or slashed wages. Others have gone bust.
SA Tourism says nearly 440,000 tourism jobs are at risk in 2020. The sector is expected to lose 75% of projected revenues and R80bn in foreign receipts.
A lost season?
With South Africans now permitted to travel between provinces for the first time since March, tourist-focused businesses are pivoting to domestic customers to stay afloat.
To keep the lights on, Krohn's Ashanti Lodge had begun renting rooms long-term to locals needing cheap accommodation. Now, hotels and guest houses like hers are rushing to put together “city break” offers.
Tintswalo has slashed prices 50% for “staycation” deals at properties such as its five-star hotels in Cape Town and luxury safari lodges previously frequented by Americans and Europeans.
Restaurants on the city's waterfront are ...