THOMPSONS Africa is to resume its night-time Cape Town township tours after cancelling them last December when one of its groups was held up at a restaurant in Langa. The company will, however, ensure that its buses are parked right outside the restaurant and that groups leave the township by 20h00. Thompsons Africa md, Linda Pampallis, said the company was in an awkward position by having to ensure its tourists were safe amid political pressure to conduct damage control. “We are told the townships are safe but never in Thompsons’ history have we had thugs hold up our guests before.” An emergency meeting held after the attack, resolved that police would receive information from Thompsons and tourism authorities on the sites and attractions frequented by tour operators and their visitors. This information would then be fed into the local police stations to ensure effective patrols. Meanwhile, local government stakeholders said that while the attacks were regrettable, they were isolated and there was no substantial threat to tourists in the townships and therefore no need to increase patrols. They claimed the media had blown things out of proportion. African Eagle owner, Enver Mally, said township tours were as safe as tourism anywhere in the city. “We’ve been operating township tours for nine years and this has only been the second incident we’ve ever had.” He claims no noticeable drop in bookings afterwards. Pampallis, however, said a group of German tourists had cancelled their tour after news reached Germany, where she claimed tourists were being warned against travelling to SA. Hilka Birns
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