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South Africa To Cancel Punitive Visa Rules That Have Hurt Tourism

Source: Business Day, 24/10/2015


The Cabinet has decided to adopt measures to alleviate the unintended
consequences of the controversial visa regulations which both Tourism
Minister Derek Hanekom and Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba believe
will address the dual challenges of SA`s security and the negative
effect of the regime on tourism.


The concessions are aimed at facilitating the practical implementation
of the regulations rather than their abolition, which opponents have
lobbied for.


Mr Hanekom conceded at a post-Cabinet media briefing on Friday that
the visa regulations had had a dampening effect on tourism, which has
been identified as a key contributor to job creation in the National
Development Plan (NDP). The biggest decline was from China.


The outcry over the regulations led to the creation of an
inter-ministerial committee under Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to
investigate the effect of the regulations, which require biometric
identification of prospective travelers and unabridged birth
certificates for the children accompanying them. Cabinet has endorsed
these recommendations, which adjust the way the regulations will be
implemented.


Most importantly, government plans to accredit travel agents in
countries requiring visas, including China, India and Russia. These
accredited travel agents will be able to take the visa applications to
South African missions eliminating the need for prospective travelers
to travel far distances to present themselves in person, which has
acted as a deterrent to visitors. This programme could be extended to
other countries that require visas.


Mr Gigaba explained that this system would mean that instead of the
Department of Home Affairs managing the visa application process, the
accredited travel companies would do so.


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