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'tourism Must Not Be Undermined By Political Narratives'
Leading industry association SATSA has warned against misinformation distorting global perceptions following an executive order by US President Donald Trump suspending foreign aid to South Africa and proposing resettlement of Afrikaner farmers.
The inbound association emphasised that reform and foreign policy are complex issues warranting discussion. Reducing them to inflammatory soundbites misrepresents reality and threatens tourism a sector critical to economic growth and millions of livelihoods.
South Africa remains an open, welcoming destination, said David Frost , CEO of SATSA. We cannot allow sensationalist rhetoric to undo years of recovery in our tourism industry or mislead travellers about what awaits them here.
Frost said travel demand from the US remains resilient. Demonstrating that American visitors continue to see South Africa for what it is a world-class destination offering unparalleled experiences arrivals from the US are currently at 99.64 of 2019 levels.
However, history has shown how unchecked misperceptions can have unintended consequences for travel sentiment. The tourism sector must be cautious not to repeat situations like the Cape Town water crisis of 2018, noted Frost. At that time, dramatic warnings about Day Zero created widespread concern even as the crisis was being managed effectively on the ground.