The South African tourism sector says it is devastated by the news of the murder of a German tourist near the Kruger Park on Monday, and they’ve called for urgent action to guarantee the safety of tourists.

The tourist was one of four travelers making their way to one of the country’s top tourist attractions in the province, the Kruger National Park.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said the group was accosted by armed men in a VW Caddy on Monday afternoon. He said the tourists were travelling in a Hyundai H1 on Numbi Road in White River and were en route to Numbi Gate at Mdluli Safari Lodge.

The attackers instructed the tourists to open the vehicle doors. The driver instead locked all the doors and was shot in the upper body through the window.

Mohlala said the tourists’ car reversed about 100m before crashing into a school wall.

“Unfortunately, the driver died on the spot as a result of the shooting. The suspects reportedly sped off in their vehicle without taking anything from the tourists.”

As a sector, we would like to convey our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the tourist who was killed in this incident. We call on law enforcement agencies to find the perpetrators of this violent crime as soon as possible.

South Africa receives a large number of tourists from Germany and this is one of the ways in which our tourism sector has been able to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a joint press release, South African Tourism and the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, says crime tops the list of factors that tourists have raised as a concern when choosing South Africa as a destination.

It was with this in mind that at a recent gathering of tourism industry leaders the sector called for South Africa’s security cluster to help us in bolstering tourism safety and acting fast against acts of criminality that affect the sector’s potential.

South African Tourism Acting CEO, Themba Khumalo says South Africans are welcoming people and this criminal behavior is inconsistent with the warm and welcoming spirit.

The protection of all tourists is immensely important to us and therefore we continue to consult the South African Police Services and all related authorities in this regard.

Khumalo’s sentiments have been echoed by the CEO of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA), Tshfhiwa Tshivhengwa:

Violence against tourists is equivalent to economic crimes such as stealing copper cables and gold, and something must be done urgently.

The leaders said their teams will meet with colleagues in the security cluster to discuss ways in which plans to ensure tourist safety are fast-tracked ahead of our very busy summer holiday season.

It is important that we make sure visitors to our country feel safe to enjoy our wide variety of tourism experiences and establishments.

Photo: Supplied by Mpumalanga SAPS