US shift SA back to level 4 risk level, effectively still banning South African’s from entry into the US and also advises against travel to SA.
Bar a complex list of visa-types and special circumstances which may allow entry or return to the US, you’ll most definitely need an experienced TAG (Travel Assignment Group) to guide one through the red-tape.
“The US is a key travel and trade market and this advisory reaffirms the urgency with which we need to speed up the vaccine roll-out. The sooner we reach herd immunity, the sooner we can open up the country and welcome back travellers who are so important for our economy,” said Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Opportunities and Asset Management for the City of Cape Town, James Vos.
“As such, it is heartening to hear that African countries will be receiving another 15 million doses in the coming days.”
Ceo of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA), Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, said the CDC’s decision was disappointing, but added that it was understandable, given that the world, along with South Africa, was dealing with a third wave.
“Our vaccination levels are still low in SA and this needs to be addressed,” he added.
Responding to concerns that United Airlines (which started daily flights between New York and Johannesburg last month) and Delta Air Lines (which starts flights from Atlanta in August) would revise or cancel their schedules following the revised risk level, Tshifihwa said he did not foresee this happening.
“The demand is there and United introduced its flights before the Level 3 adjustment. Vaccinated travellers from the US will still come to South Africa,” he said.
Tshifihwa added that a major point in the US market’s favour was that there was no quarantine imposed on return to the States. Yesterday the UK announced no quarantine for fully vaccinated UK travellers returning from amber listed countries, so the ‘tide’ is turning, but is slow and still costly to travellers who’ll still have to budget for PCR tests.
The ‘hope’ for SAns is simply, the ramping-up of the vaccination roll-out to remove us from quarantine listings, to move our way out of the peak of the 3rd wave, to create herd immunity and thereby open up the economy and trade asap. One thing is certain, during this pandemic and ahead, don’t travel without the support, expertise & guidance of an experienced & professional travel agent – stay connected.
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