Press Release: South African Tourism
September 18, 2001
NEW YORK, NY -- SOUTH African Tourism has voiced shock over Tuesday's attacks on the United States of America and
wishes to express its heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the people of the US and to the families and friends
of those killed and injured. Moeketsi Mosola, South African Tourism's chief operating officer, reports that staffs
at its New York office are all well and have not been directly physically affected by the tragedies that have struck
Manhattan.
However, the New York office is - until further notice - out of direct telephonic or e-mail contact and cell-phone
contact is also unreliable as two of the antennas responsible for relaying signals were on top of the World Trade
Centre buildings.
Mosola, further commenting on the drama that is still unfolding in what is one of South Africa's leading source
tourism markets, said: "With the world still very much in shock over what has happened, and in the face of
the massive loss of life, I feel it would be inappropriate - as well as premature - for me to comment at the present
time on any impact that this might have on the leisure and business travelling patterns of the US public, not only
to South Africa but also throughout the rest of the world.
"I can, however, say that South African Tourism has just returned from a very successful three-day Travel
Mart exhibition held in Atlanta, Georgia that ended on September 9 and was attended by some 45 South African operators,
attracted close to 250 US agents and wholesalers and received excellent media coverage."
Blacky Komani, general manager: The Americas, says he has been humbled by the outpouring of support and concern
shown by colleagues, friends and members of the South African industry and would like to take this opportunity
to thank each and every one for their kind thoughts at this tragic time.
Issued by South African Tourism, Bojanala House, 12 Rivonia Road, Illovo 2196, South Africa
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Contact:
Liz Sheridan South African Tourism (011) 778-8043 lizs@satour.co.za Maddy Cohen Patrice Tanaka & Company, Inc. 212-229-2934 mcohen@ptanaka.com Lyla Naseem Patrice Tanaka & Company, Inc. 212-229-0500 lnaseem@ptanaka.com