Luxury safari industry says it is under threat from new aviation rules
The CAA wants all airstrips to be licensed and firefighter compliant, while smaller aircraft are self-regulating their operations at unlicensed airstrips currently
The luxury safari and tourism industries are bracing for a potential loss of business, with one operator mulling a move out of the country to keep up profitability and another estimating as many as seven out of 10 operators could close down. Their concern hinges on the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA’s) plan for all South African airstrips to be licensed and firefighter compliant. Currently smaller aircraft are self-regulating in their operations at unlicensed airstrips. "If the amendment is passed‚ we will then move our business outside of South Africa and continue working in other countries such as Kenya‚ Tanzania‚ Lesotho‚ Mozambique and others‚" said Stephan van der Merwe‚ co-owner of Fly-in Safari.
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