South Africa - entry restrictions and rules [merged thread]
Jun 9, 2020, 6:01 pm
#121
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 19
I'm extremely hopeful that borders will re-open for tourism by September. I have been separated from my partner who is South African since March and I praying to be there September. The Tourism Business Council of South Africa is lobbying hard for September as well
Jun 10, 2020, 9:25 am
#123
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,422
Screenshot from eNCA News suggesting the travel from SA to Europe will be permitted in July. According to the person who sent it to me there is nothing in the actual news program on the subject or on their website yet.
Jun 11, 2020, 1:22 pm
#125
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: UK / SA
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 48
https://www.travelweekly.co.uk/artic...from-september
SA tourism industry is lobbying for a 1st September restart for “international tourism”. This would likely be subject to the C19 situation in the country of departure; it could mean intercontinental tourism vs international.
Still, a reason to have hope 🤞
SA tourism industry is lobbying for a 1st September restart for “international tourism”. This would likely be subject to the C19 situation in the country of departure; it could mean intercontinental tourism vs international.
Still, a reason to have hope 🤞
Jun 11, 2020, 1:29 pm
#126
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: UK / SA
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 48
He gives with one hand, and then...
https://qz.com/africa/1867165/south-...-to-let-visit/
If we can avoid being too stupid for a little while longer, I’d *hope* the UK graph long-tail is such that we can fly again. The other variable in this is SA not expecting it’s peak until September, so the UK’s situation may not be the blocker.
https://qz.com/africa/1867165/south-...-to-let-visit/
If we can avoid being too stupid for a little while longer, I’d *hope* the UK graph long-tail is such that we can fly again. The other variable in this is SA not expecting it’s peak until September, so the UK’s situation may not be the blocker.
Jun 11, 2020, 2:04 pm
#128
Join Date: May 2013
Location: RMS
Programs: DL Plat, UA Gold, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Credit Card Diamond
Posts: 8,789
In the first phase of a plan put forward by the group, South Africa would welcome visitors from countries at similar stages of the pandemic. Subsequent phases would expand both the number of countries whose residents are eligible to visit and the destinations within South Africa to be visited.
One challenge with that plan might be it could shut out visitors from some of South Africa’s biggest tourist markets including the United Kingdom and United States, which are likely to still be in the throes of the pandemic for some time.
\\SNIP\\
For its part, the government envisions a resumption of travel starting this September, though not on the fast track envisioned by TBCSA. “Based on the Covid-19 epidemic expected trajectory, the first phase of the recovery for the sector will be driven by domestic tourism, followed by regional tourism and international tourism next year,” Kubayi-Ngubane said in May. “Although we will be gradually opening up the sector in the coming months, depending on how the virus is spreading, we expect that the sector will only fully recover towards the end of this year.”
One challenge with that plan might be it could shut out visitors from some of South Africa’s biggest tourist markets including the United Kingdom and United States, which are likely to still be in the throes of the pandemic for some time.
\\SNIP\\
For its part, the government envisions a resumption of travel starting this September, though not on the fast track envisioned by TBCSA. “Based on the Covid-19 epidemic expected trajectory, the first phase of the recovery for the sector will be driven by domestic tourism, followed by regional tourism and international tourism next year,” Kubayi-Ngubane said in May. “Although we will be gradually opening up the sector in the coming months, depending on how the virus is spreading, we expect that the sector will only fully recover towards the end of this year.”
Jun 11, 2020, 2:09 pm
#129
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,146
So micro-management still reigns supreme? OK, their problem of course, and they must manage it as best they see fit.
My expectations of throwing GBP into the SA economy are diminished!
Jun 11, 2020, 2:21 pm
#130
Join Date: May 2013
Location: RMS
Programs: DL Plat, UA Gold, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Credit Card Diamond
Posts: 8,789
I'm hoping to throw USD into the economy as well, but I don't think it's looking good.
Jun 11, 2020, 2:40 pm
#131
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Bregenz, Austria
Programs: AA, BAEC, Alaska, Flying Blue, United, IHG, Hilton
Posts: 2,950
It's starting to look like my EUR are possibly heading elsewhere too. I hope I'm wrong.
Jun 11, 2020, 2:56 pm
#132
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
How on earth are they going to control tourists' movements once they have entered the country? Ankle monitors? Compulsory cell phone apps? Brand their foreheads? North Korean style chaperones (with masks and shields, of course)?
Here's a suggestion for the bright sparks in charge of all this: if you ever want your tourism industry to recover, just must do everything in your power to make visitors feel welcome. Tourists come to enjoy themselves. They do not want to be treated as infectious suspects and undesirable aliens, have their movements restricted and monitored, or be made to feel like a burden or nuisance in any other way.
Johan
Jun 11, 2020, 3:06 pm
#133
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,412
Presumably in the same way 'leisure' domestic travel is disallowed today, roadblocks and the likes.
Jun 11, 2020, 3:51 pm
#134
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
Johan
Jun 11, 2020, 10:47 pm
#135
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: UK / SA
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 48
Plenty of countries are considering regional variations to lockdown levels should hot-zones in transmission rates occur. SA have said as much for the past several weeks - and it’s been a hot topic in the UK regions for a similar time.
Any country that sees a sudden rise in infections may take regional or national action. For international travel longer than a week, it’s possible that getting caught out by lockdown or restrictions are going to remain a problematic for travellers for some time to come.
It certainly doesn’t feel like a problem unique to SA.
Any country that sees a sudden rise in infections may take regional or national action. For international travel longer than a week, it’s possible that getting caught out by lockdown or restrictions are going to remain a problematic for travellers for some time to come.
It certainly doesn’t feel like a problem unique to SA.