South Africa fears attacks will scare off British tourists

Concern is growing among hoteliers in South Africa that an increase in business over the past six months, led by an influx of British tourists, will be short-lived following a recent attack.

Earlier this month a British woman, travelling with her partner, was abducted and raped and a passer-by shot dead on a mountain road in near Lydenburg, one of the country's principal tourist routes.

The incident has prompted the British High Commission in Pretoria, where the attack took place, to review its travel advice. The Foreign Office has said it will also reconsider its recommendations, though it already warns against a high level of crime, including rape, in the country.

Last month another British tourist, Diane Conway, was shot dead and her husband, John, was injured in a robbery at a resort in Pilgrims Rest.

The incidents come at a time when tourism is on the increase. In the period from January to July 2002, foreign tourists to South Africa grew by 7.2% compared with the same period last year. The biggest growth in tourism is from the UK: the number of British visitors increased by 19.4% during the period.

"This will have a huge impact on the type of intrepid traveller that will take a car tour on their own," said Grant McLachlan, who manages the Protea Capital and Protea Waterfront hotels in Pretoria. "We cannot belittle what's happened and we're horrified, but it is an isolated incident. We are very worried that people will believe that this is the norm."

Andrew Cook, hotel manager at the Mount Nelson hotel in Cape Town, said that issuing warnings could undo a great deal of work done by the tourist board to change tourists' perception of South Africa.

"The positive is that the story came out and reaction was quick," he said. "It doesn't help if governments decide to put warnings out."

Cook added that many hotels, such as the Mount Nelson, had increased security to give peace of mind to travellers.

The Mount Nelson has invested more than R1m (£65,500) in the past year on electric fences and security cameras on all floors.

"These are the measures tourists want to see," Cook said.

by Christina Golding