SA Tourism would rather have closed-off Lions tour than nothing at all

In yet another example of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, even perennially bullish South African Tourism would be reluctantly satisfied with the scraps from this year's planned series between the Springboks and British & Irish Lions.

The money-spinning tour, according to SA Rugby's projections, would've led to a more than R6 billion injection into the economy, predominantly fuelled by about 30 000 travelling fans and domestic tourists who would've saved hard-earned income to have a slice of the action.

Yet South Africa's gloomy virus outlook - with various experts warning of a third wave of infections by next month - means the prospect of a tour without restrictions is improbable, if not downright mythical.