SA should have announced new variant with a plan
The Tourism Business Council of South Africa says scientists should not have announced that the country has detected a new variant without a plan.
More countries have announced travel bans for Southern Africa after the United Kingdom placed South Africa on its red list.
Much is not known about the variant but scientists say it has ten mutations and has an ability to spread fast.
TBCSA’s Tshifhiwa Tshivhenga says as much SA was being transparent, more information was required to tell other countries how the country plans to curb the spread of the variant.
“We should have announced after enough research was done and to explain what we have done and what we are going to do next,”
“I do think the Uk is being harsh and we are trying to be transparent but communication is key. You can’t just say there is fire, you have to at least say the water truck is on its way and this is what we are gonna do. The other countries my be reacting to harsh but we are also not giving them enough information,” he said
He said the consequences for the tourism in industry will be felt across the board.
“The inbound travel is gonna be hit hard as airlines are gonna stop coming into SA, hotels are gonna be hit hard and we are already seeing their share price plummeting. Bed and breakfasts, formal and informal business will be hard,” said Tshivhenga
He said he hoped domestic travel will not be banned.
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