Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA) and the Eastern Cape tourism sector have rallied to help international tourists get home, following the travel restrictions that were implemented in late March.

One couple wrote to ECPTA, thanking them for helping them return home safely and have promised to come back to South Africa once the pandemic is over.

Alexander and Theresa from Germany explained in their letter how they had spent two weeks during the lockdown at Wild Lubanzi Backpackers Lodge in the Eastern Cape.

“We were lucky and got two seats on the first German repatriation flights last week. Afterwards, we needed some days of rest during Easter to recharge our batteries after our long trip home to Germany,” said the couple.

The owner of Wild Lubanzi Backpackers Lodge, Aidan Lawrence, arranged for overnight accommodation for the couple, before they made the 13-hour drive from Lubanzi in the Wild Coast to the collection point for German tourists at the Deutsche Internationale Schule in Pretoria.

“We are very thankful to the German embassy, the SA government and SAA making this huge repatriation action possible! This should not be taken for granted.”