Authorities in Cape Town, South Africa, are pushing forward a safety management plan for tourists, in an effort to make sure the city continues to attract visitors from abroad.
As reported, crime has been a negative influence on tourism in the Western Cape area of the country; even so, Cape Town has won numerous awards as a top destination. Tourist chiefs will this week meet to discuss ways of ensuring visitors are safer in the region.
The Cape Times quotes the Western Cape provincial director for tourism, Itumeleng Pooe as saying: “Crime is rated as the first on a long list of factors affecting tourism in South Africa. When health, life property or the economic interests of tourists are threatened, tourism suffers inextricably.”
Interestingly, a recent survey found that the vast majority of visitors to South Africa leave the country feeling safer than they did when they arrived. A study by the Strategic Research Unit of South African Tourism found that 49% of visitors felt insecure before visiting the country while 81% felt secure before leaving.
