South Africa facing anti-tourist sentiments over prices

An African country is expressing strong feelings against tourism as locals grow frustrated with rising prices. The sentiment follows similar protests in popular tourist destinations in Europe. Naledi Mallela, a South African influencer, recently warned tourists on TikTok to "stop coming" to South Africa. She highlighted how the large influx of visitors is driving up costs, making everyday products unaffordable for locals. Mallela specifically pointed out the high price of a full chicken, which now costs around 600 South African Rand, or about £25.50. She emphasized that while South Africa may seem cheap to tourists, it is not affordable for many residents. Mallela appealed to visitors to lessen their travel for now, expressing that tourism is impacting her ability to visit her own city, Cape Town. Others shared similar frustrations online, mentioning the negative effects of tourism in places like Hawaii and Brazil. Some called for government actions to help regulate property prices and protect local interests. In response, Cape Town’s mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, praised digital nomads as beneficial for the economy. He acknowledged the need for balance between visitors and locals, mentioning plans to adjust taxes on certain properties to address these issues.