The Southern African Tourism Services Association (SATSA) said it is deeply concerned by the inaccurate and misleading reporting surrounding the outbreak of Mpox.
This followed the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recent declaration which classified the rise in Mpox cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
The voice of inbound tourism in South Africa said that while it fully supports efforts to combat the spread of Mpox and recognises the seriousness of this declaration, Southern Africa remains a safe and desirable travel destination as tour operators in the region are committed to the highest safety standards and are working closely with local authorities to monitor the situation.
David Frost, CEO of SATSA, said that though the tourism body recognises the need for international co-operation to address the outbreak effectively, media narratives that generalise and stigmatise the entire continent do not contribute to resolving the crisis.
“It is critical to understand that Africa is not a country, but a vast continent – geographically larger than China, the US and Europe combined. Each of its 54 countries has unique environments and health contexts.
“Painting the entire continent as a high-risk zone due to a localised outbreak is not only factually wrong, it is damaging to crucial tourism economies across Africa,” said Frost.
While the WHO’s declaration highlighted the need for global vigilance, the risk to travellers in Southern Africa engaging in standard tourism activities is minimal and there is no need to cancel or alter travel plans to Southern Africa at this time.
SATSA also urged media outlets to provide accurate, contextualised and responsible reporting that avoids harmful generalisations.
“We support WHO’s efforts and remains committed to ensuring that travellers to Southern Africa have a safe and memorable experience.
“We advise staying informed through reliable sources such as the WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC),” said SATSA.