Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has welcomed the announcement from the Federal Republic of Germany that with effect from 19 September 2021 South Africa is no longer listed as a high risk country, thus increasing access to our country for business and leisure and boosting the country’s tourism sector recovery targets.

The decision of the German Federal government means that vaccinated travellers from South Africa no longer need to have an explanation of the purpose of entry and can travel to Germany, subject to the validity of their passport and Schengen VISA.

“This is great news for South Africans who travel for leisure and business. We are looking forward to welcoming back the German tourists to South Africa,” Minister Sisulu said.

Germany has for some time been in South Africa’s top five overseas markets and this decision will go a long way in recovering the market loses suffered due to the pandemic and rebuilding the market.

The news come during the Tourism Month of September and at a time when Sisulu is hosting the continent tourism sector at the hybrid Africa Travel and Tourism Summit in Johannesburg, Durban, Lagos and virtually.

We wish to thank the German government for this progressive and scientific decision that contributes directly to the efforts to recover the tourism sector.

The ten leading countries in terms of the number of tourists visiting South Africa in August 2017 from ‘other’ African countries were: Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Gabon, Uganda, Ethiopia, Egypt, Congo, Cameroon, and Côte divorce.

“This announcement comes shortly after Emirates announced that they have increased their schedule to 28 weekly flights by October, his is a big boost to our tourism industry and this will see more people travelling for both leisure and business,” Sisulu said.

The Announcement also comes at the country is currently hosting the African Travel and Tourism Summit.