Rofhiwa Marubini
With the festive season fast approaching and inter-provincial travel allowed under level 2 lockdown regulations many people are planning to take advantage of being able to travel again after 5 months of restricted travel.
Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, welcomed the decision to lift the ban on inter-provincial travel which will not only reignite business activities in the tourism sector but also save jobs, and the many livelihoods that are facing difficulties due to the pandemic.
"The pandemic has undeniably been devastating for the tourism sector resulting in many businesses not being able to keep their doors open or battling to survive as their revenue and sales continued to shrink," said Kubayi-Ngubane.
She added that regulations announced around the country's level 3 lockdown will largely remain in place, with the exception of the eased rules around inter-provincial travel for leisure purposes, with all accommodation facilities allowed to accommodate visitors from outside of their province.
The following are tips that people can take into consideration when planning for a holiday:
Build a specific budget for your holiday trip, as is the best way to ensure you don't return from the holidays with bills. 
The best way is to save money gradually in a savings account and build a simple spreadsheet that will outline the expenses you expect to incur on the trip such as hotel accommodations, tickets, food, entertainment etc.
Book your holiday travel early as prices always continue to rise as the holiday season approaches which makes demand for flights and hotel rooms high.
Consider Holiday Packages, the competitiveness of the holiday season means you might find some great deals on hotel and flight packages.
Give a family member or friend your travel itinerary and the contact information for your hotel, so that they can get in touch with you if something unexpected happens and need your urgent attention. 
Leave the expensive electronics and digital cameras at home to reduce your risk of getting robbed.