Tourism ministry slams Israeli travel advisory

MIRAH LANGER

“We have noted the issuing of safety alerts by some embassies including Israel, and the manner in which it’s done is regrettable,” said Hlengiwe Nhlabathi, the spokesperson for the ministry of tourism.

“This does not bode well for tourism in the country. Their intention is to dissuade visitors to South Africa, and unfairly so.”

The advisory, which was published in Hebrew by the foreign ministry on the Israeli government’s website on 1 January, makes extensive recommendations, including that “in the face of rape and violence against women, it is recommended that women not walk alone”. For those going to the Kruger National Park, it recommends “avoiding the town of Phalaborwa completely”. In addition, it suggests that visitors to the game park stay at hotels within the reserve and “avoid lodging near the park due to crime against tourists in the area”.

The advisory comes in the wake of reports of three armed men forcing their way into a holiday home in Phalaborwa on Boxing Day, and robbing a group of tourists, including an Israeli teenager who was raped. Previously, in September 2019, a 22-year-old Israeli tourist was raped when she and her boyfriend were robbed while on holiday in Graskop, Mpumalanga.

However, when approached by the SA Jewish Report and asked for context to the advisory, including whether there was a link to these recent incidents, the Israeli embassy in South Africa said it wouldn’t comment on the matter.

The Israeli travel advisory starts off by informing tourists that there are high levels of crime in South Africa including those of a violent nature and those targeting tourists. It notes that the majority of crimes occur in townships and areas where there are crowds, such as shopping centres, especially at night.

The advisory then goes on to recommend that visitors to the country “exercise caution” and heed various safety recommendations. These include remaining vigilant in city centres, avoiding walking in unsafe or isolated areas, and not travelling at night by foot or car. It also suggests that visitors avoid taking public transport.

It notes that when driving, tourists should keep their windows closed and doors locked, as well as keep bags, wallets, and valuables hidden in the car such as under the seat. It recommends that tourists don’t carry too much money, jewellery, as well as other valuables around, and also cautions that because of ATM fraud, visitors should ensure they keep their pin codes secret and if possible draw money directly from the bank.

The advisory ends by listing a number of emergency contact details, as well as a web link to tourist safety recommendations issued by the South African Police Services.

Nhlabathi said alerts such as this one not only cause panic, but also “continuously cast the country in a bad light”.

This, she said compromised “the rigorous work we continue to do to position our beautiful South Africa as the number-one destination of choice with vast, outstanding, and enriching experiences on offer for all to enjoy”.

Going forward, Nhlabathi said Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane would “prioritise engagements with ambassadors of the various countries to address this matter of great concern”.

She noted that, in fact, South Africa had never faced terrorist attack comparable to those suffered by other countries. “It’s unfortunate that we find many embassies negatively portraying brand South Africa.”

Furthermore, she said government departments, the police, tourism institutions, and other stakeholders were continuously collaborating to improve tourist safety.

“We have been on record to say the safety of our tourists remains a government priority. One incident is one too many, and it cannot be discounted.”

Yet, she said, people needed to be “mindful of the perception that exists about South Africa”. Even South Africa’s local media perpetuated some of these “negative narratives”.

Pointing out that the government was taking practical steps to deal with safety issues in the tourism sector, she said, “Just last month, the minister together with Police Minister Bheki Cele launched a joint tourism safety initiative, which resulted in heightened police visibility aimed at ensuring that local and international tourists have a positive visitor experience.”

She said the tourism safety plan included preventative measures as well as “responsive steps in the event of an incident and an aftercare programme focused on supporting any victims after an incident has occurred”.

“All prospective visitors must be assured we are ready and eager to warmly welcome each one of them to our shores. As a multicultural nation that is rich in diverse offerings, there is always something new and exciting do here,” she said.

Meanwhile, Rowan Polovin, the national chairperson of the South African Zionist Federation, noted that Israelis were the largest contingent of tourists from the Middle East to South Africa. “We hope that this trend will continue given South Africa’s natural beauty, infrastructure, diversity, and our strong local Jewish community.”

He said travel warnings were “a common occurrence for travellers coming to South Africa”, pointing out that these had been issued by a number of other countries including Canada, the United Kingdom, as well as Lesotho, Botswana, and Zimbabwe.

“Whilst a travel warning needs to be taken seriously, the travel advisory issued by the Israel foreign affairs ministry was filled with common-sense advice which should be given to anyone travelling to a foreign destination for the first time.”

Polovin suggested that the content of the advisory was clearly “not a directive not to visit South Africa, but rather a cautionary travel guideline and should be read in this light”.

The SA Jewish Report spoke to two couples from Israel that have been living in South Africa offering community service for a number of years. “There is a gap between the real situation and the rumours. Life in South Africa, for us, we feel confident about it, and we feel safe, but we do need to be alert,” said one of the Israelis.

“The violence in South Africa doesn’t dictate our diary. We go out; we live; we enjoy,” he said, while noting again that this was always while remaining vigilant.

Another of the Israeli citizens currently in South Africa said that indeed, Israelis in Israel often question whether it is safe to be in South Africa: “Many friends ask us how we live here, as they hear it’s very dangerous. We say, ‘Well, what you hear about Israel is that it is also very dangerous’.”

Her partner noted that when it came to safety in South Africa, “If you do your homework and avoid places that are risky, then there shouldn’t be any problem.” In fact, “Most likely you will leave South Africa with the best experience ever!”