Concerns have been raised about British propensity to travel to South
Africa due to price increases.


While local tour operators are expecting increased arrivals in 2017,
the overseas trade suggest that price increases may deter tourists to
certain destinations.


Local DMCs have a positive outlook for the year ahead based on
enquiries and bookings received thus far. Glenn McKeag, CEO of
Springbok Atlas Tours & Safaris, said forward bookings were showing
good growth, with all signs that 2017 would surpass 2016. Similarly,
Katja Quasdorf, Product and Marketing Director at Jenman African
Safaris, said enquiries for South Africa had been coming in earlier,
with an increase in numbers for FIT tours, self-drive tours as well as
guided group tours.


However, Martin Wiest, CEO of Tourvest Destination Management, pointed
out that while South Africa could expect shoulder and off-season
growth, availability would cap high-season growth.


High-season availability was a concern because of a lack of inventory
and infrastructure, said Wiest. He explained that, for this reason no
estimated growth was perceived for those periods. He added that
Tourvest would focus more on shoulder and off-season growth and hoped
to see a 10% increase in these areas.


However, concerns have been raised about South Africa’s biggest
market, the UK.


John Haycock, from UK-based Africa Explorer, suggested that travel to
South Africa and dollar-based Southern African destinations had become
more expensive for the average

UK family. He said the after effects of
Brexit had resulted in a 20% increase in the cost of living. “The
pound continues to get weaker, and airline prices are not going down
either.” The pound was recorded at R24.49 on January 11 2016. The
South African rand was at R16.61 to the pound on January 11, 2017.



However, Nigel Vere Nicoll, suggested that while the pound had
weakened, South Africa was less likely to experience a decrease in
arrivals compared with other African destinations that priced in
dollars, given the significant devaluation against the dollar. “The
fact that South Africa quotes in the rand and not in dollars, is
hugely beneficial.”


Patrick Menzies, SAA Manager: Sales and Marketing for Scandinavia,
Finland and Baltics, also noted an increase in prices. He said while
South Africa remained an inexpensive destination for Scandinavians,
overseas travel agents continued to increase the mark-up on packages.


“South Africa needs to realise that they are not only
competing with tourism in the rest of Africa, but also against the
world.”


Travel to Zimbabwe in 2017 was also expected to increase with the
opening of Victoria Falls airport and accommodation options available
in Victoria Falls and Hwange, said Quasdorf. She added that Kenya
Airways flights linking Livingstone and Cape Town would also help to
make packaging the areas more interesting. V.1876

One of the highlighted topics: Critical Skills Visa.

- Key Insight: Is your profession on the Critical Skills List? This visa is your fast track to working in South Afr...
- This matter relates to critical skills visa and its broader implications.
- Individuals are advised to seek professional guidance.

Is your profession on the Critical Skills List? This visa is your fast trac V.6139
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One of the applicants, Phindile Mazibuko, became a victim of identity theft in 2012 when fraudulent transactions occurred, using her personal details.

-The Pretoria High Court found that the department of home affairs had violated constitutional rights without due process.
-Only half of Lawyers for Human Rights` test group has been unblocked, while 385 000 identities remain blocked nationwide.
-LHR appeals extension, urges affected people to seek help now.

Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) are intensifying pressure on the department of home affairs over the national ID-blocking crisis, accusing the state of acting too slowly to unblock qualifying individuals despite a landmark court ruling.

In January last year, the Pretoria High Court found that the department`s practice of blocking IDs without due process was unlawful and unconstitutional. One of the applicants, Phindile Mazibuko, a Swati citizen and South African permanent resident since 1998, fell victim to identity theft in 2012 when fraudsters used her personal details.

 V.6133
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6128
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6129
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A Washington state mother and her 6-year-old son have been released after spending more than three weeks in US immigration detention due to a brief trip to Canada and a small paperwork mistake, her attorney told CNN on Saturday.

Sarah Shaw, a New Zealand citizen who has lived legally in the US since she arrived in 2021, was detained at the Blaine, Washington, Customs and Border Protection checkpoint when returning home after dropping her two oldest children off at the Vancouver airport for a flight to visit their grandparents in New Zealand. Shaw, 33, chose the flight out of Vancouver because it was direct and she didn`t want her children to have to navigate a layover alone, her attorney Minda Thorward, told CNN.

 V.6130
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On 22 July 2025, the Gauteng High Court dismissed Sitrusrand Boerdery`s review of the Department of Employment and Labour`s refusal to issue a Working Conditions and Salary Benchmarking Certificate, an essential precondition for obtaining corporate visas under the Immigration Act.

Acting Judge Kekana AJ held that the Department`s decision was lawful, rational and procedurally fair. This judgment illustrates how businesses can - and must - structure their corporate visa applications to meet statutory requirements, and how legal practitioners should prepare robust review challenges when administrative authorities decline to recommend foreign-work permits.

 V.6131
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The United States could forfeit an estimated 9.4 billion dollars in visitor spending over the next three years following the introduction of a new 250 dollars `visa integrity fee,` according to industry groups, who warn the policy risks undermining tourism and costing thousands of jobs.
The United States’ decision to introduce a 250 dollars `visa integrity fee` on international visitors has triggered sharp criticism from the global tourism industry, with officials warning that the measure could deter millions of travellers and cost the U.S. economy billions.
The 250dollar `visa integrity fee,` part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed on July 4, 2025, will take effect later this year. According to immigration law firm Envoy Global, it applies to all nonimmigrant visa holders which include students, tourists, temporary workers, and business visitors particularly from African countries. V.6132
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6127
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1. Right to Legal Representation•You have the right to consult with a legal representative.•Contact an immigration practitioner, legal aid clinic, or attorney urgently.•Do not sign any documents without understanding them fully. 2. Section 34 of the Immigration Act•You must be brought to court with 48 hours to confirm arrest but you can remain locked up very long as courts figure out what to do with you •If you`re found to be illegally in South Africa, you may be detained for up to 30 days (extendable by a magistrate) pending deportation.•BUT this cannot happen arbitrarily. You must be informed of your rights, and Home Affairs must follow due process.- becomes a nightmare , you could lose your job , business , place to stay V.6121
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Driving for Bolt, Uber, Mr D, or Checkers Sixty60?If you`re undocumented, you`re risking more than just your income.The Risks if You`re Not Legal: - Vehicle impoundment - Heavy fines - Arrest & deportation - Permanent bans from working in SA V.6122
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