Tourism bleeds jobs and money

Major role-players in the country’s hospitality industry have joined hands to plead with government to reopen the economy as thousands of jobs are at risk and businesses close down.

Already, about 400 000 jobs have been lost in the tourism industry since the national lockdown came into effect in March. The sector is reportedly losing R750 million in revenue a day.

Some tourism establishments have closed down for good, while others have had to let thousands of staff go during the past four months due to the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak and the national lockdown. This is compounding an already huge unemployment problem in the country as the alcohol and tobacco sectors also bleed money and jobs.

Tourism Business Council of SA chief executive officer Tshifiwa Tshivengwa said the industry would only