Let's open up domestic leisure travel, says Tourism Business Council
The Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) says it's time that the country's tourism sector reopens for domestic leisure.
Without economic activity, the council says thousands of tourism jobs would be lost.
TBCSA presented its recovery strategy to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Tourism on Tuesday.
Business and essential travel are allowed under level 3 lockdown.
The council's CEO Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa says domestic leisure travel should be allowed too.
He says South Africa's tourism sector is ready to reopen with strict safety procedures in place
RELATED: Cape Town could see 90,000 job losses in tourism sector
Tshivhengwa says the council has put together a guideline with robust industry protocols for all businesses in the sector.
RELATED: Localised domestic tourism key to resurging WC tourism industry, says dept
TBCSA has also formulated a strategy for the phased reopening of the sector, he explains.
The CEO says many hospitality businesses have learned some key lessons about Covid-19 safety while offering their establishments for use as quarantine facilities.
Tshivhengwa says the sector is prepared to self-regulate and implement monitoring and inspection measures.
As tourism businesses, we are on our knees. We need to do whatever we need to do to get up on our feet.
Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, CEO - Tourism Business Council of South Africa
Adherence to protocols is in the interest of everyone who is in the tourism business.
Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, CEO - Tourism Business Council of South Africa
If we do not comply with the protocols, we will be shut down. We are well aware of that. We have to do things in the right way.
Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, CEO - Tourism Business Council of South Africa
We are going to put together a mechanism of monitoring to make sure that we do spot checks. People will be sent to do visits to make sure that we comply.
Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, CEO - Tourism Business Council of South Africa
It's up to us to open and remain open. We need to put in every effort to self-regulate.
Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, CEO - Tourism Business Council of South Africa
Listen to the discussion on Today with Kieno Kammies:
More from Local

Govt again 'letting poor down, badly, callously, obscenely' says John Maytham
John Maytham vents about temporarily disabled people having to stand in long queues and getting water cannons fired at them.
Read More
[VIDEOS] Police spray Sassa grant queue in Bellville with water cannons
Journalist Saawmiet Moos in Belville describes people queuing for Sassa social grants sprayed with police water cannons.
Read More
'Eskom has again been grossly caught with their pants around their ankles'
Energy analyst Ted Blom says Eskom doesn't report the additional shedding of VLS clients totaling an over 4000-megawatt shortfall.
Read More
Can you get a new South African passport right now?
W Cape Home Affairs' Sam Plaatjies says no, but the department has the discretion to renew passports on a case-by-case basis.
Read More
Meet Dr Emmanuel Taban, a leading pulmonologist in SA's fight against Covid-19
Dr. Emmanuel Taban, a pulmonologist at Mediclinic Midstream, has become well-known for his novel methods in the treatment of Covid-19 patients.
Read More
DBE postpones the reopening of schools to 15 February
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has confirmed that schools will reopen in mid-February and not on 27 January as initially planned.
Read More
We can't extend temporary disability grants again, says Sassa CEO
The CEO of the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) says the agency can't extend the validity of temporary disability grants that have lapsed any further.
Read More
SGB associations don't support plans to delay reopening of high schools - Fedsas
The national coronavirus command council (NCCC) has recommended that the reopening of high schools be postponed to 15 February 2021.
Read More
Don't fall for promises of high returns from latest investment scam, warns FSCA
A new scam is surfacing on Facebook and WhatsApp groups. The masterminds are even using the FSP number of a legitimate company.
Read More
'Thank you Mr President for not shutting us down, but we need more support!'
Loadshedding is another blow to the struggling restaurant industry. We need more relief says Grace Harding (Restaurant Collective)
Read More