De Lille says plans in place to address safety concerns for tourists this festive season

Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille said plans are in place to address safety concerns for tourists in major destinations this festive season.

This follows travel advisories from several countries warning their citizens about crime hotspots in South Africa.

Domestic tourists have also not been spared from a spike in crime in parts of Cape Town and Johannesburg, especially during peak season.

De Lille said that additional security measures will be in place during the December break.

“We regret the attack on any visitor, local or international. So, what we have done is that the Department of Tourism, we made available about 202 tourism monitors to the Border Management Authority. They are being deployed at various ports of entry. Last week, we deployed 40 at OR Tambo. So, safety is a concern for all of us.”

But she said that the focus is not restricted to tourists, with residents across the country also growing frustrated about the high crime rates.

“We don't have specific police that look after tourists and that's not what we want. We want a safe South Africa because these travel advisories that goes out tells us as South Africans that we have to do more about crime in our country that's even affecting local South Africans.”