Johannesburg - Tourists from neighbouring countries are cancelling bookings out of concern over xenophobic attacks, the SA National Parks (SANParks) said on Thursday.
“A large proportion of guests to our national parks are international visitors and we appear to be sending a message that foreigners are not welcome in our country. It is worrying to note that we have already had a number of booking cancellations from neighbouring countries,” the organisation said in a statement.
“We are also extremely worried about these occurrences as they could also undo years of successful work done in the establishment of the Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCA).”
Chief executive Fundisile Mketeni said SANParks bought into the concept of TFCA’s, facilitated by the Peace Parks Foundation (PPF), in support of the idea of connecting shared cultures between neighbouring countries which had been divided by centuries of conflict and colonialism.
“We fear that the current wave of attacks on our fellow Africans will undermine the good work that has been done in this regard.”
Mketeni said SANParks enjoyed good working relations with countries including Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Botswana, Tanzania and Kenya.
The attacks of foreign nationals started in Isipingo, Durban, three weeks ago, and has so far claimed the lives of seven people.
ANA