New IDC campaign aims at boosting tourism across South Africa

The initiative is the result of a collaboration between IDC, South African Tourism and the Tourism Business Council of South Africa Tourism, which have selected exclusive hospitality facilities, airlines and tour operators aiming to support the domestic tourism campaign.

 

The campaign follows the Covid-19 pandemic, which took its toll over the South African tourism sector, with R54.2 billion in losses between March 2020 and May 2021, which accounts for a 75% revenue drop and over 438.000 jobs lost. Before the lockdowns, tourism accounted for an approximate of 9.2% of gross domestic product, the second most influential export sector in the country’s economy back in 2018.

“We recognise the importance of this sector to the country’s economic recovery and job creation prospects. Prior to the on-set of the Covid-19 pandemic, the numbers confirm the importance of the sector in relation to GDP contribution. The subsequent economic lockdowns significantly disrupted the growth momentum in the sector”, commented Industrial Development Corporation’s CEO Tshokolo Nchocho.

As an incentive, the campaign locks in significant discount rates of up 35% to selected destinations across the South Africa.

“We are delighted to present South Africans with an opportunity to explore the many tourism products that our country has to offer, and this is more important especially as we emerge from economic lockdowns and travel bans imposed at the height of the pandemic from May 2020 up to August last year.

“We are hopeful that this campaign will also help the sector recover some of the jobs lost during lockdowns”, added Nchocho.

The initiative is part the IDC’s long-term commitment to intensively support domestic tourism and aims to motivate South Africans to visit more destinations in the own country.

“As the economy opens up, we anticipate an increase in local travel across South Africa. Our investment in this initiative demonstrates our confidence in the tourism sector as a key contributor to South Africa’s economy”, the CEO concluded.

 

Source: cbn.co.za