This is according to the Department of Small Business Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs (Destea). Speaking to OFM News at the Inoseng Primary School in Petrusburg, where MEC Makalo Mohale is expected to address public servants and local entrepreneurs, the departmental spokesperson, Kgotso Tau, confirms more needs to be done to address the high unemployment rates in the province. He further confirms the industry has for months been on its knees due to the Covid-19 pandemic, leaving many jobless. Tau, however, says the province is hard at work to revive domestic travel in an effort to boost the economy.

Tourism Minister, Lindiwe Sisulu, on Monday told members of the media that there has been a decrease of R1.2 trillion and a loss of 7.2 million jobs in the tourism industry in Africa since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Her statement came as South Africa hosts the African Travel and Tourism Summit in Johannesburg this week.

Meanwhile, Tau highlights that the Free State will be hosting World's Tourism Day in Clarens next week, 27 September, where political heads and experts across various sectors are expected to discuss means on how to boost the economy through tourism.

OFM News