BLUE TRAIN UPDATE
Despite suspending its services until 30 June 2020, The Blue Train is taking the necessary precautions and is implementing several health and safety measures to ensure that when travel resumes, The Blue Train is COVID-19-fit. The Blue Train had advised its booked, paid and confirmed guests of changes to the cancellation policy to accommodate potential travel disruptions due to COVID-19. The changes allow guests who were due to travel on the Blue Train between 18 March to 31 August 2020, the option to postpone travel to any date that falls within the September 2020 to 31 December 2021 time frame.

OPENING OF TOURISM IN SOUTH AFRICA
Contrary to online rumours, tourism in South Africa could open earlier. South Africa’s tourism private-sector, under the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA), have been engaging on the Tourism Recovery Strategy currently being developed by South African Tourism. TBCSA is advocating unequivocally for the earlier phased reopening of international tourism to South Africa this year to as soon as September 2020. The TBCSA will be presenting the approach at the next Parliamentary Portfolio Committee meeting today, 9 June 2020. The proposed phased recovery strategy provides for an initial 6-8 week Preparation Phase, followed by a Phase 1 trial phase where safe source markets with similar risk profiles and stages of the pandemic are allowed to travel to South Africa. These travellers would be vetted, all stringent safety protocols would be in place and the focus would be on low-contact product and low-risk areas, traditionally with low density. In Phase 2, South Africa would further open key markets, expand the experiences on offer, until in Phase 3 air access is opened fully and the destination can restart its longer-term growth strategy. Click here to read the full press release from the TBCSA. Click here to view the full SATSA webinar on international inbound recovery.

SOUTH AFRICA’S UPDATED AIRPORT PROCESSES
Following the Level 3 regulations announced by the Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has put in place extensive physical measures, procedures and staff training. From arriving at the airport and check-in process to boarding the aircraft, click here to see the new airport procedures.

SOUTH AFRICA: CERTAIN AIRLINES RESUME FLIGHTS
As the country moves to level 3 of the lockdown, airlines are preparing to resume limited services. CemAir resumed services as early as June 5 between Johannesburg and Cape Town and between Johannesburg and Durban from 8 June. FlySafair will start flying from 15 June, with ticket sales expected to open this week on the following routes:

  • JHB (O.R. Tambo International Airport) – CPT
  • JHB (O.R. Tambo International Airport) – DBN
  • CPT – DBN
  • Lanseria International Airport – CPT
  • Lanseria International Airport – DBN

Airlink launched limited scheduled domestic air services from Monday 8 June, with flights on the Johannesburg-Cape Town and Johannesburg-Durban trunk routes, using 98-seat Embraer E190 regional jets. According to the Airlink CEO and MD, Rodger Foster, “We are ready to start flying our customers again. We used the down-time to put our pilots and cabin crew through their paces on simulators and training devices, while also maintaining our aircraft fleet.” Mango Airlines is set to resume flights on Monday 15 June, between Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. Travellers must present a travel permit and letter from their employer authorising business travel. This will be checked at the entrance to airports and again at check-in and boarding. Due to extra regulatory and safety protocols, passengers are asked to arrive at least 2-and-half hours before their flight. Sanitiser will be provided and aircraft will continue to be cleaned between flights and deep-cleaned each night.

SOUTH AFRICA: NATIONAL PARKS UPDATE
Following the Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane’s announcement on Saturday 30 May that public and private game reserves would be open for self-drives under Level 3 regulations, only certain national parks are open. Golden Gate Highlands, parts of the Garden Route and Table Mountain national parks (with the exception of Boulders Beach and Cape Point) – opened on Monday, 1 June. The Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Barbara Creecy, is set to release a statement in due course regarding the opening of other parks.

ZIMBABWE: VICTORIA FALLS AT HER MOST POWERFUL
Victoria Falls is showing off, and it’s a sight to behold. According to the Zambezi River Authority, data shows Victoria Falls peaked on 3 May when 4 568 cubic metres of water per second tumbled over the world’s largest waterfall, 4 times more water than the 1 136 cubic metres per second on the same day last year. The high-water levels are due to a significant increase in both rainfall and run-off in the catchment area upstream of Victoria Falls during the last rainfall season and this year the water levels at Vic Falls have been well above average. Click here to see the images.


Click on the links for more information

Eastern Cape
Grahamstown National Arts Festival from 25 June to 5 July

Free State
Free State Wine Show from 31 July to 1 August 2020

KwaZulu-Natal
Comrades Marathon on 14 June 2020 (Postponed)
Vodacom Durban July on 4 July 2020

Mpumalanga
Dullstroom Arts Festival from 19 to 21 June 2020
Skukuza Half Marathon on 1 August 2020

Western Cape
Knysna Oyster Festival from 26 June to 5 July 2020 (Postponed)
Franschhoek Bastille Festival from 13 to 14 July 2020
AfricaCom from 10 to 12 November 2020
Cap Classique and Champagne Festival from 30 November to 1 December 2020
Mining Indaba from 8 to 11 February 2021
Budget Speech 17 or 24th Feb 2021 (Tentative dates)
SONA (State of the Nation Address) Date to be confirmed


PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

Please note that our offices will be closed on the following Public Holidays:
Tuesday, 16 June 2020 – Youth Day
Sunday, 9 August 2020 – National Women’s Day
Thursday, 24 September – Heritage Day