Tourism sector losses R164bn

South Africa’s tourism sector lost an estimated R164 billion in spending by domestic and inbound visitors to the country in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Blessing Manale, the spokesperson for the Tourism department, discusses some of the major challenges that the tourism sector has been facing over the last 18 months and highlights some of the positives throughout the covid-19 pandemic. He also discusses why it is so important for South Africans to travel locally and why ramping up the vaccination drive is essential for the survival of the sector and various small businesses.