While some operators in southern Africa are fielding queries from inbound clients following the World Health Organization (WHO) declaration that the outbreak of Mpox is a public health emergency of international concern, SATSA has emphasised that the region remains a safe and desirable destination.
“Tour operators in the region are committed to the highest safety standards and are working closely with local authorities to monitor the situation,” said David Frost, CEO of the inbound tourism industry association.
He said SATSA fully supports efforts to combat the spread of Mpox and recognises the seriousness of WHO’s declaration. However, Frost added, the industry is deeply concerned about inaccurate and misleading reporting about the outbreak.
“SATSA recognises the need for international cooperation to address the outbreak effectively. However, media narratives that generalise and stigmatise the entire continent do not contribute to resolving the crisis. It is critical to understand that Africa is not a country but a vast continent – geographically larger than China, the United States and Europe combined. Each of its 54 countries has unique environments and health contexts.
“Painting the entire continent as a high-risk zone due to a localised outbreak is not only factually wrong but also damaging to crucial tourism economies across Africa.”
South African Tourism CEO Nombulelo Guliwe agrees with Frost that the perception in key source markets that Africa is one country needs to change. “How do we shift that perception? By addressing it internally first. We can only address it through meaningful public-private-sector collaboration.”
Guliwe said it is also important to work with WHO to ensure all facts are disseminated correctly.
Misunderstanding
A game lodge operator told Tourism Update, on condition of anonymity, the misunderstanding of how vast South Africa is, let alone the rest of the continent, is an issue.
He said, although the lodge had not received any cancellations “yet”, misunderstanding the geographic scale of southern and East Africa, as well as the disease and how it is spread, could drive concerns and cancellations.
“Tourists on a game vehicle in the Kruger National Park are in absolutely no danger of contracting Mpox. Tourists visiting a wine farm near Cape Town are in no danger. You can’t get it travelling through an airport, being in a forest or on a mountain or eating at a reputable restaurant.”
Tourism Update has seen a document from a medical doctor advising the tourism industry that the risks in the US, parts of Europe, Brazil, Thailand and Australia are far higher than in South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Botswana.
Frost confirmed this: “While WHO’s declaration highlights the need for global vigilance, the risk to travellers in Southern Africa, engaging in standard tourism activities, is minimal. There is no need to cancel or alter travel plans to southern Africa at this time”.
The document from the medical doctor highlights three ways Mpox can be contracted:
- Engaging in sexual activity with infected individuals
- Living in rural forests in Central Africa or caring for patients
- Working voluntarily in Central Africa to specifically treat Mpox cases
As of yesterday, Tourism Update understands there has been only one travel advisory published in Canada although more are expected. It is important to note that, while the advisory focuses on protection, it does not caution against travel.
WHO’s response
WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti said: “Significant efforts are already underway in close collaboration with communities and governments with our country teams working on the frontlines to help reinforce measures to curb Mpox. With the growing spread of the virus, we’re scaling up further through coordinated international action to support countries bringing the outbreaks to an end”.
WHO Mpox Emergency Response Committee Chair Professor Dimie Ogoina added: “The current upsurge of Mpox in parts of Africa, along with the spread of a new sexually transmissible strain of the monkeypox virus, is an emergency not only for Africa but for the entire globe”.
The two vaccines currently in use for Mpox are recommended by WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation and approved by WHO-listed national regulatory authorities as well as individual countries including Nigeria and the DRC.
Last week, the Director-General triggered the process for emergency use listing of Mpox vaccines, which will accelerate access for lower-income countries that have not yet issued their own national regulatory approval. Emergency use listing also enables partners, including Gavi and UNICEF, to procure vaccines for distribution.
WHO is working with countries and vaccine manufacturers on potential vaccine donations and coordinating with partners through the interim Medical Countermeasures Network to facilitate equitable access to vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics and other tools.
WHO expects immediate funding of US$15 million will be required to initially support surveillance, preparedness and response activities. A needs assessment is underway across every level of WHO.
To allow for immediate scale-up, WHO has released US$1.45 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies and may need to release more in coming days.
“SATSA supports WHO’s efforts and remains committed to ensuring that travellers to Southern Africa have a safe and memorable experience. We advise staying informed through reliable sources such as WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention,” said Frost.
