Delight at easing of SA`s visa rules

Source: Business Day, 26/10/2015

TOURISM and travel organisations have welcomed government`s surprise
U-turn on elements of the contentious visa regulations, but some have
said this has not gone far enough.


Government announced on Friday that some of the more onerous
provisions had been eased.


It has been estimated that the regulations caused massive reductions
in tourist arrivals to SA, costing the economy billions of rand.



Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba had earlier insisted that the
regulations were not negotiable, and were essential for state security
and to curb child trafficking.


In-bound travellers accompanied by minor children will no longer be
required to produce an unabridged birth certificate and prospective
visitors will not have to apply for visas in person.


The concessions are a product of an inter-ministerial committee
chaired by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa. Home Affairs and Mr
Gigaba welcomed the concessions and insisted they did not constitute
"loopholes". Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom said the concessions
balanced security and child-trafficking issues with easing the burden
of visa applications.


Home Affairs said: "In terms of the decision on the requirement for
travellers to apply for visas in person in countries where there is no
SA mission, the department will receive applications, including by
post, and capture travellers` biometrics on arrival at ports of entry.
To address concerns around the geographical spread of countries like
China, India and Russia, certain measures will be put in place to ease
the process of application, in particular for tourists."


Grant Thornton Advisory Services director Lee-Anne Bac said: "We are
delighted with the amendments. These changes will make the visa
requirements for foreign tourists to South Africa much more
streamlined and easier to obtain, thereby ensuring a much simpler
process for travellers to our country."


Southern Africa Tourism Services Association CEO David Frost said:
"The changes are great news."


World Travel and Tourism Council CEO David Scowsill said it was
important that the changes were implemented quickly and efficiently.


Democratic Alliance spokesman on tourism James Vos said
the concessions amounted to nothing more than a "band aid".


A Grant Thornton report, commissioned by the industry in anticipation
of the visa regulations, had predicted that SA would lose 100,000
prospective visitors this year, miss out on R4.1bn in tourist revenue
and place 9,300 jobs in jeopardy as a consequence of the onerous
travel requirements.