Cape Town - Thousands of potential tourists have been formally warned by their own governments against visiting South Africa following a spate of violent xenophobic attacks in the country.
Botswana’s government has become the latest to caution its citizens against travelling to South Africa, joining a long list which includes authorities in China, Israel, the UK and Zambia.
Hong Kong issued a warning saying “residents intending to visit South Africa or are already there should monitor the situation, exercise caution, attend to personal safety and avoid protests and large gatherings of people”, wrote a government spokesman in an outgoing amber alert.
The government said its Security Bureau would be closely monitoring the situation in South Africa.
The UK’s government released an alert on its public sector information website warning its travellers to stay away from Joburg, Durban and parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
Local media in Israel reported that the Foreign Ministry was concerned about rioting. On Ynet News’s website, images of protesters brandishing pangas were circulated alongside an article wherein it was reported that the Israeli foreign ministry had issued a travel warning.
But many international users online, shocked by circulated images of the attacks which began in Durban, and have left at least seven dead, have commented that they had no intention of visiting the country.
The National Department of Tourism released a statement attempting to allay fears of travelling to the country, maintaining that “tourism activity” was unaffected by the ongoing violence.
Warnings on travelling to the country were first released last week at the height of the attacks. As groups of angry protesters took to the streets of Joburg, Durban and Pietermaritzburg the Zambian High Commission advised its citizens to “exercise caution” when visiting South Africa.
“Although the pattern so far shows that shops owned by foreigners are being targeted, we would, however, wish to advise you to pay close attention to your personal security.”
The commission urged travellers to register with the High Commission in Pretoria to make it easier to contact them “in case of an emergency”.
Botswana’s Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Minister Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi warned the country’s citizens against travelling to South Africa.
According to the Xinhua News Agency there are a large number of Botswana nationals living in South Africa, including around 120 students studying at the heart of the attacks in Durban.
International users online have reacted strongly to the images of armed crowds and warnings. Commenting on an article in the Israeli press, one user said: “SA is xenophobic, racist and anti-Semitic”.
Users commenting on an article that appeared on NPR, the US’s national broadcaster, said that the situation was not only terrifying for the foreigners living in the country now, but also for potential visitors.
“We understand the concerns that may exist in some of our key tourism source markets,” said National Department of Tourism spokesman Praveen Naidoo. “We would like to provide comfort to prospective visitors that tourism activity in the country remains unaffected.
“We are encouraged by the swift and decisive action from the criminal justice system to end this senseless behaviour.”
The department has come out in condemnation of the attacks, saying they stand in stark contrast to the country’s reputation of being home to “welcoming and hospitable people”.
However, it still remains unclear how the attacks will impact tourism. There have already been reports that recent violence has hurt the rand with investors turning away from the volatile climate and taking their business to more stable countries.
But Western Cape Tourism MEC Alan Winde said: “The travel trade across the world is already warning of a significant drop in visitors to SA as a result of these regulations.”
According to his department, tourism is the province’s fastest growing sector, employing over 200 000 people. Over the next five years, it has been projected that it will generate R28 billion for the country’s economy, creating a further 100 000 jobs.
Cape Argus