• ​We appreciate measures implemented and adhered to by some of our key stakeholders, including South African Airways and Emirates Airlines.
  
• These have been received with appreciation, including the grounding of international arrivals in Lanseria as a control measure for the benefit of citizens.
• We would like to appeal to tour operators and tour guides to act responsibly – to act in the best interests of responsible tourism, by suspending guided tours in the City for improved social impact with immediate effect – up until the country signals a go-ahead.
• Tourism Relief Funding: The Department of Tourism has contributed R200 million towards their planned distress fund.
• As of 23 March 2020, the National Department of Small Business Development, SEDA & SEFA is offering a COVID-19 SMME Emergency Funding Package.
• According to the President's address regarding tourism businesses that are under particular stress due to travel restrictions, the City of Johannesburg will be happy to make available support letters for tourism businesses (in line with the specific requirements) when applying to access the funds from National Government bodies.
• We are in collaboration with the BARSA (Board of Airline Representatives of South Africa), SATSA (Southern Africa Tourism Services Association), FEDHASA (Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa) and SAACI (Southern African Association for the Conference Industry) to ensure that the tourism and hospitality sectors adhere to measures issued by the President.
• I am mindful of the realistic fact that the economic growth of the Republic has gone down by 1,4 percent and the Moody's credit rating was revised down from 0,7 to 0,4 - which led the country to experience a technical recession.
• With that being said, the tourism sector, based on its resilient nature is one of the sectors that was going to help the country bounce back from recession – but unfortunately was constrained by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• After the pandemic has been dealt with, it is anticipated that there is going to be a lot of movement between businesses and a lot of meetings taking place.  All these taking place will help to revive the tourism and hospitality economic growth, particularly business tourism. 
• The City is ready to cater for this anticipated movement as a leading business destination.
• According to Euromonitor International Report, where Joburg recorded 5.9 visitor arrivals in 2018, we are expecting a huge decline due to COVID-19 as a major constraint to travel.
• Collaboration between City and strategic partners wherein the private sector is demonstrating good citizenry, include the following efforts:
• Hotels availing their properties as quarantine sites without looking at making profits, but covering costs;
• Positioning of hospitality establishments looking to accommodate people for long stays (i.e. a period of 21 days in response to Government's clarion call a national lockdown);
• This is a strategic initiative to ensure that business can still function during this time to not only cover costs, but also retain jobs;
• In respect of the precautionary measures put in place by the President, I would like to announce that in consultation with SAACI, a decision to postpone the SAACI Congress for a later date in the current calendar year.

• Remarkably, SAACI as a bid won by the City of Johannesburg through its business tourism efforts, is going to be jointly staged by the City and SAACI.
• To this end, the tourism private sector, in collaboration with government partners, including the City of Johannesburg, have embarked on research to determine revenue losses in tourism business. 
• The outcome of the aforesaid study presented the following outcomes:
• R764,8 million in business lost due to cancellations;
• R44,5 million average per respondent;
• R150 million – highest single company loss in value of confirmed bookings – a business that had R250 million value of confirmed bookings from 16 March to 20 June 2020;
• R20 000 lowest loss in value of confirmed bookings – a business that had R50 000 value of confirmed bookings from 16 March to 20 June 2020;
• 66,3% average value of cancelled bookings versus total value of confirmed bookings held 16 March to 20 June 2020.

• This is a nationwide study; it has not been segregated down to provinces and cities as yet, although responses are received via provincial chapters of tourism associations.  The study is still ongoing and will ultimately measure impact.
  
  

ends

Released by:                    Laura Vercueil : PR & Communication Manager                                                  Johannesburg Tourism

                                        Department of Economic Development

                                        Tel: +27 11 883 3519

                                        Email: laurav@joburgtourism.com

Johannesburg Tourism is a destination marketing organisation, dedicated to promoting tourism growth in the City. Its primary function is to promote Johannesburg as a business, lifestyle, sport and leisure destination, both locally and internationally. Its operations include running a Convention Bureau, a Visitor Services Bureau, as well as co-ordinating city-wide tourism marketing programmes, tourism information gathering and analysis. 

Johannesburg Tourism has three offices:

Joburg Tourism Head Office

Tel: +27 11 883 3525

Sandton Tourism Information Centre

Tel: +27 11 883 3519

Park Station Tourism Information Centre

Tel: +27 11 338 5052/3

Operating hours 08:00 – 17:00 Monday - Friday