`SA tourism could take a while to recover from visa regulations`

Source: EWA News, 27/10/2015

JOHANNESBURG - As the Department of Home Affairs prepares to relax the
conditions of its new visa regulations, it`s being predicted that
South Africa`s tourism industry could take a while to recover.
People travelling into South Africa will no longer be required to
apply for their visas in person.
The tourism department announced on Friday that people travelling into
South Africa will no longer be required to apply in person for their
visas.
The requirement of an unabridged birth certificate for children coming
into the country has also been lifted.
Lee-Anne Bac of Grant Thornton advisory services says the impact of
the strict laws on the tourism industry has been greater than anticipated.
"It`s going to take a lot on time, energy and money to restore our
reputation; to get the communication out there out there about the
changed regulations and to convince those who`ve lost faith in us that
they should actually have faith in us again."
CHANGES
WITHIN 3 MONTHS:
- Implement the capturing of biometrics at ports of entry starting
with a pilot at OR Tambo, King Shaka and Cape Town airports.

- Look at introducing an accredited tourism company programme for
countries like China, India and Russia.

- Consider a long-term multiple entry visa for a period exceeding
three months and up to three years for frequent travellers (for
business meetings), business people and academics.

- Principals will issue letters confirming permission for children to
travel on school tours.

- Extend the validity of the parental consent affidavit to six months.
WITHIN A YEAR:
- Add visa facilitation centres, including in Zimbabwe, United Arab
Emirates and Botswana.

- Consider a visa-waiver for India, China, Russia and other countries.

- Look at issuing visas on arrival for persons travelling to SA having
in their passports valid visas for the UK, USA and Canada or any other
country that applies stringent checks on visitors to their countries,
to ease travel for tourists.

- Consider granting a certain category of frequent travellers
(business and academics) from Africa a 10 year multiple entry
visitor`s visa.

- Open two business visa facilitation centres in Durban and Port
Elizabeth, in addition to the centre recently opened in Sandton.

- Print parents` details in their passports so that they do not have
to carry birth certificates.
LONG TERM & BEYOND:

- Install systems for pre-flight checks at international airports.

- Upgrade advance passenger processing systems and implement passenger
name record, to enhance risk assessment.

- Finalise automation of the visa and permitting system.