Several Tourism Update readers this week responded passionately to the South African government's stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with some confirming that bookings had been cancelled as a result. The government continues to insist that it has adopted a neutral stance on the conflict.
Responding to a Tourism Update article on how the issue is impacting tourism, an operator in Sweden said that tourists in that nation were “asking a lot of questions” about the situation.
“A few tell us that they will not support a country that so clearly stands on the Russian side. Last week we had a company with 140 employees that planned a trip to South Africa but changed their mind and are now going to a European destination instead,” the operator said.
Angela Matthews, Founder and Director of Alpha Destinations, said: “We recently lost a big booking due to SA's closeness to Russia/Vladimir Putin and its non-neutrality.”
Another reader, based in southeast Asia, said that “it darkens the image of South Africa when it is seen to consort with human rights abusers and warmongers”.
