POWER 98.7: 300 000 Jobs Already Shed In SA Tourism Sector
Domestic travel has never been first choice for South Africans as the country’s tourism sector appeals largely to the pockets of international visitors.
With the easing of lockdown regulations under alert level 2 of the country’s risk-adjusted strategy to the Covid-19 outbreak and the international travel ban still in effect, the hospitality industry is going to have to look on its doorstep for potential customers.
Aldrin Sampear unpacks the tourism industry’s road to recovery as interprovincial travel is now permitted.
Sampear points out that 65% of the money the tourism sector generates comes from international travel.
He speaks to Tourism Business Council of South Africa CEO Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, Small Business Institute CEO John Dludlu and co-founder of the Hookup Dinner Selebogo Molefe.
Tshivhengwa says the story of many in the industry is that of demise – he points out that even some of the country’s most iconic hotels have been forced to close down.
“It has been tough. We estimate that 300 000 people have lost their jobs already. Many companies are looking at getting rid of or doing away with 50% to 80% of their staff,” he outlines.
Molefe adds that while it’s been “a period of uncertainty”, there’s also been “a lot of excitement for the future and the possibilities”.
The Hookup Dinner is a contact-centric business. However, it has quickly had to adept to digital models in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
It is a networking community of entrepreneurs. It consists of networking, pitching sessions, dynamic talks; marketplace opportunities to access networks in the various countries through live-streaming and use of digital tools.
POWER Digital
by Power 98.7 – https://www.power987.co.za/featured/300-000-jobs-already-shed-in-sa-tourism-sector/
