South African Tourism (SAT) says it currently has no plans to postpone or cancel Africa's Travel INDABA 2020, scheduled to take place from 12 - 14 May 2020 in Durban, South Africa. In a letter sent to delegates, the tourism agency said it is in daily contact with its partners and stakeholders in South Africa as well as the relevant authorities in the travel and health sectors. The COVID-19 virus presents the agency with an unprecedented set of circumstances that are changing on a day-to-day basis, but it says it will continue to monitor the situation as it unfolds, and inform delegates of any new developments. SAT says it is aware of information that a 38-year old male has tested positive for the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in KwaZulu-Natal following his return from Italy.

The Department of Health, together with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) have deployed a team to manage the case and implement the necessary steps to contain the situation. For association meetings and conferences, SAT will continue to work with the health and safety authorities to ensure that they have up to date information provision for organizers to keep them at ease of South Africa's readiness to host business events.

According to SAT, the Grading Council of South Africa is working with its convention venues to continuously enhance their hygiene protocols and ensure that scanning facilities are used for the safe management of visiting delegates. "We are also carefully considering and consulting widely with regards to the measures that we will put in place at the show to provide delegates with the requisite reassurance that the situation will be effectively managed. These measures will be communicated in due course.", the letter read.

#Events #Durban #HospitalityandTourism #COVID19 #Coronavirus