Although most tourism businesses have not experienced cancellations in bookings, the international community has shown major concern around safety and security in South Africa due to the recent xenophobic acts of violence, causing industry to worry that it may affect tourism negatively in the future. 

Michael Tollman, CEO of Cullinan Holdings, said although they had not had any cancellations, there was one group wanting to cancel their trip to South Africa. He also warned that cancellations might increase over the next few days and if xenophobic acts continued it could have a detrimental impact on tourism.

Rob Hetem, Director of Tamrich Tours, said safety was foremost in the minds of their international partners and clients. He said SA already had a poor reputation when it came to safety and it was common for clients to raise questions around this.

“One of our marketing professionals has decided not to work with us on the inaugural South African stand that I have convened for ATM2015 in Dubai this year,” said Hetem. He explained that this was because they believed local tourism trade continued to promote South Africa blindly as a travel destination to the world, whilst foreigners were being “murdered in the streets” in xenophobic attacks.

In a statement, CEO of SA Tourism, Thulani Nzima, reassured Indaba delegates and foreign nationals coming to South Africa that the country was safe to visit. “We do not take for granted the support we have enjoyed over the years from our brothers and sisters throughout the continent in contributing to the growth of tourism into our country. We are also appreciative of the backing of our counterparts on the continent who have ensured that our flagship trade shows, Indaba and Meetings Africa, have grown in stature in the years they have been in existence.”

According to Hetem, the violence and the reporting thereof will have an impact on tourism but it is up to the government’s willingness to handle the matter that will determine the extent of this impact. “I for one certainly hope that government will show the will to address it far more expediently and decisively than they did with the Ebola and visa issues.”

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In the latest column on Tourism Update, Onne Vegter from Wild Wings Safaris,  looks at how xenophobia affects tourism, saying: “The xenophobic violence you hear about in South Africa does NOT target tourists and does NOT affect tourist regions!”