SA: Increasing jobs and ease of access in tourism sector possible

Source: Tourism Update, 12/03/2018

South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Derek Hanekom, says increasing jobs
and ease of access in the tourism sector is possible.
“Whatever we do in tourism, regarding increased arrivals, translates
into a large number of jobs as it is an employment-intensive industry.
It is not difficult. If we do the right things, it is achievable,” says
Hanekom.
During the Power Lunch interview with CNBC Africa on March 9, Hanekom
was responding to a question on the State of the Nation Address (SONA),
in which President Cyril Ramaphosa alluded to doubling jobs in tourism
from 700 000 to more than half a million.

Minister Hanekom also referred to the call by the President during his
SONA to grow the economy by removing regulation barriers. He said if
South Africa could make it simpler for international tourists to visit,
the country would see an increase in tourist arrivals.
“Our challenges are: intensified marketing and making it easier for
tourist to get to South Africa. This will translate into a large number
of jobs, which will make a huge difference in [tackling] our
unemployment,” said Hanekom.
He went on to emphasise the importance of discussions between the
Departments of Tourism and transport on sufficient airlinks and direct
routes between SA and other African countries, as part of making it
easier and more affordable for people to visit SA.
As part of reducing barriers for travellers, Hanekom also said
engagement with the Department of Home Affairs was critical in three
areas �` the regulations impacting on minors visiting SA; ease of
obtaining a South African travel visa; and reviewing the countries that
need visas for travel to SA.
“When the visa requirement for Russia was waived, we saw an increase of
over 50% of travellers from Russia to South Africa,” said Hanekom,
adding that when visas were introduced for New Zealand travellers to
SA, there was a 17% decline in visitors. “The only reason for the
decline in the numbers from New Zealand was the visa requirement.
Therefore the engagement with Home Affairs is critically important,”
concluded Hanekom.
This was recently reinstated by a poll conducted by Tourism Update,
where readers voted on whether the implementation of electronic visas
(e-visas) would have a positive impact on arrivals into SA. 89%
voted ‘Yes’, whilst only 11% voted ‘No’.