Lengthy visa delays threaten key emerging market

Source: Tourism Update, 26/05/2017

The issuing of tourist visas for Indian national is taking anything up
to 20 days, if not longer.


The inability by South Africa’s consular offices to process visa
applications from Indian nationals timeously is forcing operators to
postpone and rebook travel arrangements, all while pleading with
suppliers to keep the original rates in place and not charge
cancelation fees.


The Times of India on Thursday reported that a family of five had to
cancel flight bookings because visas, applied for four weeks prior,
had not been issued on time.


When asked why visas were taking longer to process, Department of Home
Affairs Spokesperson, Thabo Mokgola, said all visas that meet the
requirements are issued within stipulated time. "Those that take
longer to finalise are due to verification of information, outstanding
documentation and other factors that impact on finalisation. In the
latter instance, applicants are informed accordingly."


Both Collin Thaver, MD Southern Africa 360 Luxury Holidays and Johan
Groenewald, MD of Royal African Discoveries have been affected by the
delays.


Thaver says at present visas are taking anything up to 20 days, if not
longer, to be issued. “In one instant we are having to postpone and
re-postpone holiday arrangements for clients wanting to travel because
they have not received their visas.” Groenewald says for the past five
years, the Indian market has experienced issues with visas.


He adds that while the Department of Home Affairs said it increased
staff two years ago, it appears the staffing is still
insufficient.


Rebooking to accommodate postponements eats into operators’ tight
margins, says Thaver. “With the low margins we make from this market,
these undue delays are not cost effective for us to endure
administrative hiccups,” he says. “Yet again we are pleading with our
suppliers to be flexible with us and not raise cancellation costs when
we have to release bookings at the last minute or change travel
dates.” He adds that payment delays based on late issuing of visas
also puts operators at risk.


The Indian market has been a growth market for South Africa and
because Indians travel during their summer, which is South Africa’s
winter period, the market presents an opportunity to deal with
seasonality, says Groenwald. He adds that both Zimbabwe and Zambia
have introduced online visas for this market. He questions why South
Africa cannot do the same, given that biometrics are submitted on arrival.