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Tourism industry to try `regain lost ground` after visa saga

Source: Business Day, 06/11/2015


THE Department of Tourism will begin working to "regain lost ground"
in the industry, now that changes have been introduced to SA`s
contentious new regulations, minister Derek Hanekom told the tourism
portfolio committee on Friday.


Mr Hanekom briefed the portfolio committee in Parliament, saying that
the changes to the regime would allow for the beleaguered tourism
industry to recover without compromising national security and the
fight against human trafficking.


The changes come as part of recommendations by an inter-ministerial
committee tasked with assessing the unintended consequences of visa
regulations on the tourism industry. The regulations include required
unabridged birth certificates for minors and in-person visa
applications.


SA will now require a minor`s birth certificate with parental details
included. Accredited tourism agencies will also be brought in to
facilitate visa applications on behalf of travellers. The visa
regulations were blamed for disappointing tourism numbers, with the
industry blaming them for scaring off tourists.


"The challenge right now is to get the list of accredited tourism
agencies which will get visa applications approved. Measures are being
worked on to allow for executive business people to access SA and this
is a matter that is being worked on by the Departments of Trade and
Industry as well as Home Affairs," Mr Hanekom said.


He said that in countries where there were no South African missions,
the Department of Home Affairs would accept applications for medical
and visitor visas by post. He said biometrics and photos would be
taken on arrival at ports of entry in SA.


The department was preparing to introduce an accredited tourism agency
for Brics partners India, Russia and China. SA would also increase the
number of visa facilitation centres in countries such as the UK,
Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates for those seeking visas for
purposes other than tourism, Mr Hanekom said.


The inter-ministerial committee accepted the implementation of the
current child travel requirements, namely the written parental consent
and affidavits. Democratic Alliance (DA) member of the committee James
Vos said SA should return to marketing itself as a tourism destination
urgently.


African National Congress (ANC) committee member Sheilla Xego-Sovita
said the committee appreciated that the minister was able to assist
the tourism industry without jeopardising national security.


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