Tourism industry calls for action to end leadership crisis in SA Tourism board

TOURISM organisations have voiced serious concerns over recent upheavals within the board of South African Tourism (SA Tourism) and the potential impact this might have in marketing the country as a tourist destination.

- SIPHELELE DLUDLA

This comes after the SA Tourism board on Thursday placed CEO Nombulelo Guliwe on precautionary suspension effective immediately, following serious allegations of misconduct.

Leadership instability at the national tourism agency responsible for marketing the country as a preferred tourist destination comes just a month before one of South Africa's biggest tourism conferences.

In a statement on Friday, the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) - the umbrella organisation representing businesses in the hospitality, travel, and tourism sector - highlighted Guliwe's reported suspension and the resignation of board chairperson, Professor Gregory Davids, last month as glaring concerns.