THRIVE: 05 Tourism on the upward trajectory in SA, after 2 years of Covid! South Africa’s tourism sector alongwith the rest of the world’s was decimated during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. As stakeholders in the tourism value chain, we have been working to regain lost ground, writes the CEO of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa. We are starting to see positive data which points to a recovery for this critical sector of the economy. The numbers are comprised of our collection of the TOMSA levy which have over the past quarter been at over 90%, compared to what we collected in 2019. Secondly, the numbers from the country’s statistics agency, Stats SA, show that accommodation numbers are on the rise and international arrivals are up by 215% compared to this time last year. Anecdotal evidence also reflects an industry that is on the upward trajectory albeit from a low base. For example, in 2022 I have stayed in more hotels and attended a lot more in-person conferences since the pandemic began. This data paints a picture of a resilient sector made up of business owners, employees, local and international visitors who regularly post on their social media platforms about the wonderful experiences at the various tourist sites. Recently, the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) held a conference under the theme: Tourism - The Engine of Growth. The theme of the conference was chosen to highlight the significant contribution of the sector to South Africa’s economy. Among the many key topics debated and discussed, was a rallying call by industry leaders, for the tourism sector to be accorded the acknowledgment and respect it deserves, instead of being positioned as a tertiary sector. The importance of the tourism sector is further highlighted by data that was released by the World O p i n i o n We are starting to see positive data which points to a recovery for this critical sector of the economy image source: pexels.com
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