TSHWANE READY TO WELCOME BACK VISITORS
In the same way that Tshwane’s iconic jacaranda blossoms herald a new season of growth and beauty after a lacklustre lockdown, returning business and leisure visitors are re-invigorating their own lives and the businesses that rely on them.
Ready to escape their homes, reconnect and celebrate with family and friends in scenic settings and re-acquaint themselves with the great outdoors, South Africans were relieved when government announced a Level 1 lockdown on 21 September 2020.
Mandla Ndlovu, Chief Marketing Officer of the Tshwane Economic Development Agency (TEDA) reassures international and local visitors that Tshwane’s tourism establishments are ready to host them under these new relaxed requirements, having taken significant precautions to ensure a healthy and safe environment in which to re-discover the destination.
Level 1 requirements bring people together responsibly
So, visitors can relax without relaxing healthy protocols, such as the ubiquitous face masks and social distancing. Level 1 means that all venues and public spaces operate at a 50% capacity with a maximum of 250 people at indoor gatherings and 500 people at outdoor gatherings. Alcohol can be consumed at licenced establishments until curfew, which is in place from midnight to 4am. All international travellers to South Africa will be temperature screened and need to present negative Covid-19 test results valid for 72 hours from time of departure. Should symptoms present, mandatory quarantine will be necessary at the traveller’s own cost.
A window of opportunity opens up for visitors
Speaking to the weekend leisure seekers, Sho’t Left travellers, foodies, museum and art gallery visitors and anyone looking to take a break and get out of the house, Tshwane Tourism Association (TTA) Chairperson, Bronwen Cadle de Ponte said Tshwane extends a warm welcome to them. “Level 1 is a window of opportunity to explore and travel again. Visit the visitor attractions you’ve always wanted to see now. It’s also a great time to discover hidden gems, as these will be away from the crowds and at the same time, you’ll be supporting small businesses, knowing you’re making a real impact.”
Booking essential to avoid disappointment
Booking early is crucial to secure your seats and spaces at a favourite or popular restaurant, venue or event, taking into account that only half the seats are available. And, even though you won’t be rubbing shoulders with anyone soon – we’d like to continue enjoying the relaxation of lockdown restrictions and freedom of movement through being responsible – your social life will slowly but surely remedy as you start celebrating the beauty of nature and life again with your loved ones.
It’s this renewed enthusiasm that is essentially spring time, inviting us to spread our wings, look at the world around us with fresh eyes as we transition from a device-driven digital world to a vibrant, albeit redefined, real world that awaits us. Towards this aim, confident, tempting Tshwane is ready to be discovered.
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New heights achieved through world-class protocols
“While everyone was hunkering down, Tshwane’s tourism industry put their heads and hands together digitally to adjust operations and implement new standardised and internationally-recognised protocols, as spearheaded by the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) and the South African Events Council (SAEC). Regular engagements with members and associations were undertaken with the result that the industry has emerged with new heights of service, staff training, hygiene, innovation and value offerings. They didn’t only discuss new measures, they officially pledged compliance, revised their policies, redefined their businesses and dug deep to survive the Covid-19 crisis together.”
Events follow safety first industry guidelines
For many organisations, there has never been a better time to stimulate the economy, consolidate and communicate recovery plans, as well as motivate staff and clients to re-ignite partnerships and profits. Business tourism events have always been a conduit for networking, concluding deals, sharing ideas and solutions and impeccable Tshwane venues are available to host inspiring meetings, conferences and special events. With the new, comprehensive Events Safety Guidelines, event organisers and delegates can be assured that professional event industry members are following a “safety first” approach enabled by global best practices to ensure their health and safety from start to finish. These processes include risk assessments, sanitisation and control measures, contact tracing, staff health and hygiene monitoring including attendee management, event and response planning, venue and event management, as well as transportation.
