Home
FacebookSearchMenu
  • Subscribe (free)
  • Subscribe (free)
  • News
  • Features
  • TravelInfo
  • Columns
  • Community
  • Sponsored
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Advertise
    • Send Us News

Share

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • E-mail
  • Print

‘Scrap PCR tests’ – TBCSA

10 Feb 2022 - by Adele Mackenzie
Comments | 0

PCR tests for fully vaccinated travellers to enter South Africa need to be scrapped as a matter of urgency, as they remain a major barrier to tourism recovery.

They also remain a thorn in the side of South Africans returning from trips abroad, not to mention an enormous added expense. A traveller recently returning to South Africa from Scotland had to pay £149 (R3 120) for a single PCR test.

According to Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, CEO of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA), the organisation had focused on getting these costly tests scrapped since last year.

“We have addressed this at Nedlac and National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure level and we know the Department of Health is considering proposals regarding this.” He said many countries globally were scrapping the tests, with Portugal being the latest to implement this.

“If the scientists advising policies around this have specific concerns and reasons as to why these tests should not be scrapped, they need to explain this so we can better understand what is driving these concerns,” said Tshivhengwa.

The TBCSA, he said, was also in the process of revising some of the COVID-19 health and safety protocols to ensure the industry could move forward and not be hamstrung by cumbersome regulations.

“Of course we are doing this responsibly and are mindful of maintaining traveller trust in our destination.”

In a recent poll in Travel News’s sister publication, Tourism Update, over 86% of respondents indicated that PCR tests were a barrier to tourism growth, with operators highlighting that the cost of the tests was one of the biggest obstacles.

Amanda Castleman, Owner/Manager of UmSisi House in Mpumalanga, said this was particularly a barrier when guests were travelling to multiple countries within Southern Africa.

“Guests have to pay exorbitant fees for a test to enter each country,” she said.

Owner and Director of Alpha Destinations, Angela Matthews, agreed. A recent multi-country itinerary she’d put together for clients resulted in a bill of US$1 100 (R17 000) per person for PCR tests alone.

Sign up to our mailing list and get daily news headlines and weekly features directly to your inbox free.

Acsa insourcing push strains JNB security

Yesterday
Comments | 0

Carnival announces new loyalty programme

29 Jun 2025
Comments | 0

Feature: Seabourn: Your clients’ next epic adventure!

29 Jun 2025
Comments | 0

TAAG welcomes another Airbus

29 Jun 2025
Comments | 0

Abu Dhabi’s Yas Waterworld expands

29 Jun 2025
Comments | 0

Baby elephant takes a tumble

29 Jun 2025
Comments | 0

Latest Changes on Travelinfo (27 June'25)

29 Jun 2025
Comments | 0

Pilgrims keep booking despite conflict

26 Jun 2025
Comments | 0

QR responds to airspace chaos

26 Jun 2025
Comments | 0

Turkish returns to Sabre

26 Jun 2025
Comments | 0

China launches online visa processing

26 Jun 2025
Comments | 0

Luxury travel – the value is in personal enrichment

26 Jun 2025
Comments | 0

Hilton plans Nile cruise

26 Jun 2025
Comments | 0
  • Load more

FeatureClick to view

MICE in cruising July 2025

Poll

Have your clients experienced longer queues than usual at security at OR Tambo International in recent weeks?
  • © Now Media
  • Privacy Policy
  • Travel News on Facebook
  • eTNW Twitter
  • Travel News RSS
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Send Us News