On Jan. 29, Consul General Kang Yong met with Minister Alan Winde of Economic Oppotunities from Western Cape Government. They exchanged ideas on a few issues of common interest.

 

Consul General Kang Yong met with Minister Alan Winde

 

Consul General Kang said, Cape Town is an important tourist destination city for Chinese tourists. There are about 110,000 Chinese tourists coming here every year. The Chinese side is very glad to learn that the Western Cape Government has promised that tourism will not be affected after the “Day Zero”. In terms of attracting more Chinese tourists to South Africa, visa and security are the two major setbacks for boosting the Chinese tourist market. The Consulate would like to work together with the Western Cape Government in this regard. Consul General Kang also expressed gratitude to the Western Cape Government for its efforts in rescuing two Chinese nationals in the Table Mountain climbing incident on Jan. 1, this year.

Minister Winde said, Tourism won’t be affected after Day Zero because of the following two reasons. Firstly, Cape Town CBD area will be excluded from the Day Zero water shutdown. Therefore, hotels and restaurants in CBD will keep open by then. Secondly, water shortage is a problem mainly confined to Cape Town city. Water supply in other areas in the Province, including the Garden Route, will still remain the same as usual. Hotels and B & B outside the CBD area will be affected, but the government will take measures to make arrangements accordingly. Minister Winde echoed his concern over the “two setbacks” to boosting the Chinese tourist market mentioned by Consul General Kang. He introduced a fews steps already taken by the Western Cape Government to offset these setbacks and expressed interest to explore more oppotunities to cooperate with China, expecially with Shandong Province, sister Province of the Western Cape.