How safe is South Africa to international visitors right now?

South Africa saw its peak in COVID-19 infections towards the end of July 2020 and has since then, seen a gradual but steady decrease in new and active cases. As of 16 September, less than 2 000 new cases were being recorded a day and the recovery rate was at 89%. This is what prompted the South African government to downgrade the country from alert level 2 to level 1, with effect from 21 September 2020.

How do I pick a travel insurance policy?

Travel insurance policies will differ based on factors such as your age, the length of your trip, and what you want to be covered. A standard insurance policy may cover cancellation for events such as the sudden bankruptcy of a travel company, unexpected illness, or a natural disaster or unrest in the destination. When looking for travel insurance that covers COVID-19-related events, consider the following: Travel medical: cover your expenses if you or a travel companion, such as your spouse or child, contract Covid-19 while travelling and require medical care or evacuation.Trip cancellation: cover any expenses incurred as a result of cancelling your trip prior to departure because you, or someone you care for, contracted Covid-19.Trip delay: cover any expenses incurred as a result of changing Covid-19 regulations e.g. travel bans. Most travel insurances will not cover disinclination or fear to travel. The exception is 'cancel for any reason' (CFAR) insurance. This is usually available as an optional upgrade to a standard travel insurance plan and may cost up to 50% more than a standard plan. It typically needs to be purchased within one to three weeks from the time you booked your trip or made the initial deposit, and you must cancel your travel 48 hours prior to departure. Often available in two tiers, CFAR insurance can cover you for 50-75% of your total travel costs. However, CFAR is readily available in the US, it is not yet a common insurance product in South Africa. Know that there is no-size-fits-all travel insurance plan and each additional cover comes at a cost. Whichever you choose, be sure to read the full insurance contract before buying to check whether it covers specifics like quarantine, testing, and flight disruptions.

Are suppliers changing their cancellation and booking policies?

Each supplier (airline, tour operator, etc.) will have its own change and cancellation policies, and many are being more lenient when it comes to deposits or postponements. As a consumer, if you are in a position to postpone rather than cancel, you not only help the supplier and several players along the value chain, but you also keep something to look forward to and don’t have to compromise on your expectations. Be sure to read and understand all the terms and conditions of your ticket or booking upfront so that there are no surprises down the line.

Are domestic airlines operating in South Africa?

Yes. Cemair, Airlink, FlySafair, and Mango Airlines are all flying domestic routes in South Africa and domestic flights are permitted across all provinces (for all purposes).

Which airlines are operating flights to/from South Africa?

Each airline will have its own threshold for flying to and from South Africa based on demand for seats—which need to be filled on both inbound and outbound legs. For this reason, we may see that not all airlines immediately begin flying to South Africa. Schedules may remain in flux for some time to come as countries, including South Africa, continuously update their list of permitted countries and entry requirements based on infection rates, which will have an impact demand. Specific ticket enquiries will need to be taken up with the respective airline.

COVID-19 Corona Virus South African Resource Portal

Tourism Minister unpacks amended Level 3 regulations

Jun 26, 2020

Last Updated on Jun 26, 2020

Following the issuing of advanced alert Level 3 regulations for tourism, Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane confirms that no domestic leisure stays and activities will be allowed in this phase.

While President Cyril Ramaphosa said in his address on 17 June that Cabinet had decided to ease restrictions on certain economic activities including “accredited and licensed accommodation, with the exception of home sharing accommodation like AirBnB”, there is in effect no change to regulations governing the operation of accommodation providers.

The use of accommodation therefore remains limited to travellers outlined in the previous regulations, which can be found here.

Further clarity was, however, provided on what the regulations refer to as accredited and licensed accommodation: “Accommodation that is zoned for commercial purposes, as opposed to someone in the activity of home sharing.”

Highlights in the Ministerial briefing include:

Directions for restaurant, fast-food outlets and coffee shops
Directions for hotels, lodges, B&B, resorts, guest houses, etc.
Directions for conferences and meetings
Directions for casinos
Directions for private self-drive excursions

Further resources:

Click here to read the Tourism Minister’s speech
Click here to watch the Tourism Minister’s briefing
Click here to view the full COGTA regulations for Tourism

The impact of COVID-19 on the travel industry is unprecedented and unpredictable. The nature of the content that is being shared on the ASATA coronavirus microsite is therefore constantly changing. Please check the date of the post to ascertain its recency.

Tourism Minister unpacks amended Level 3 regulations

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COGTA releases Level 1 Regulations – Awaiting clarity on list of ‘allowed’ countries

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