To mark the start of Tourism Month, we are excited to announce that the Western Cape has been awarded the prestigious Safe Travels Stamp by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).
Following announcements by Stellenbosch, Paarl, Wellington, the City of Cape Town and the V&A Waterfront that they had been awarded the Safe Travels Stamp, it made sense to apply for this globally recognised stamp on behalf of the entire Western Cape as a sign of our commitment to adhere to the WTTC’s health and hygiene global standardised protocols and to further inspire confidence in the destination.
With the launch of our “We Are Open” domestic tourism campaign last week, receiving the WTTC Safety Stamp is another indication that the Western Cape is ready to open safely and ready to start doing business again.
We are confident that not only do we offer visitors many affordable and world-class attractions, but we can also assure them that wherever they see the WTTC Safety Stamp in the Western Cape they can know that there is the strictest adherence to the necessary health and safety global protocols.
WTTC designed the special Safe Travels stamp to enable travellers to identify governments and companies around the world that have adopted its health and hygiene global standardised protocols so that holidaymakers can experience ‘Safe Travels’.
These global protocols were developed in collaboration with WTTC members, leading industry associations and international organisations, and they take into account the current guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Businesses have been working hard to implement the health and safety guidelines to stop the spread of Covid-19 in the workplace so that their staff and their customers are safe, and we have been working hard alongside them to provide the tools and resources they need to do this. Members of the public can also submit a complaint if a business is not complying with the necessary health guidelines to stop the spread of Covid-19.
We know times are tough, but we all have an important role to play in the recovery of our economy as we go out and safely explore the Western Cape, supporting local businesses and providing them with a much-need lifeline during these difficult times.
During Tourism Month, I will be visiting businesses across the province to engage with them, listen to them and identify ways that we can work together to rebuild our economy in the Western Cape. Follow me on Twitter or Facebook to see where I am visiting.
This Thursday evening, I will also join Premier Alan Winde for his First Thursday event which will be livestreamed and during which we’ll discuss the importance of the tourism sector to our economic recovery in the Western Cape and also answer questions from the public about this topic and more.
In so doing, I hope to highlight the great experiences and attractions that we have to offer in the Western Cape, and encourage those who can afford to do so, to please support these businesses.
Businesses and local tourism authorities in the Western Cape who are interested in obtaining the Safety Stamp and protocols for application for their respective organisations can contact Inge at Wesgro for more information at inge@wesgro.co.za
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