As infection rates decline and mass job losses continue, it is time to lift the lockdown

STATEMENT BY THE CITY’S MAYORAL COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND ASSET MANAGEMENT, ALDERMAN JAMES VOS.

Over the last few weeks I have engaged extensively through site visits, webinars, calls and emails with stakeholders across the spectrum in the tourism and related industries. From these engagements, it is clear that we must act now to end the devastating lockdown before it is too late.

I will write to my national counterparts to make the case for why unfettered travel between provinces must be allowed and for the lifting of the ban on alcohol and cigarettes.

COVID-19 infection rates have started to decline. In the Western Cape, we have passed the height of the infection rate as predicted by health experts and national government.  Media reports indicate that the efficacy of the lockdown has now expired. It is time to end the lockdown so that we can provide a lifeline for the remaining tourism businesses, now and not later.

Cape Town tourism and related industries such as food, beverages and hospitality are heavily reliant on domestic tourism, especially business travel between our country’s economic hubs, Cape Town and Johannesburg.

In fact, between March 2018 and February 2019, travel from Cape Town to Johannesburg was the 11th busiest domestic route in the world, with almost 34 000 flights, according to Aviation Analytics  company, OAG.

Far too many businesses have already closed permanently. News of more closures are sadly all too frequent.

The economy of Cape Town is highly reliant on the tourism and related sectors for jobs and economic activity and we know that, according to the latest information from Statistics South Africa, the tourism sector added R18,1 billion to our economy and supported just over 113 000 jobs in 2018.

Together with the City of Cape Town’s official Destination Marketing and Management Organisation, Cape Town Tourism, we have developed a bounce back strategy for the tourism sector. However, this requires the reopening of inter-provincial travel at the very least.

I am confident that by reopening travel between provinces for both business and leisure, on the strict condition of the implementation of the necessary health and safety measures, we will be able to breathe life back into these vital sectors.