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SA to ease visa regime for China

Source: Tourism Update, 24/08/2018

SAâ€™s easing of visa requirements for Chinese travellers is expected to
come into effect in October.
In July, the South African government signed several agreements with
China, including a visa agreement that is likely to come into effect
October 1.
Malesela Leso, Deputy Director: Bilateral Relations & Co-Operation
Asia and Australasia at the National Department of Tourism, confirmed
with Tourism Update that South Africa was about to ease visa
requirements for Chinese travellers, however have not yet been
implemented.
Speaking at a media briefing in Johannesburg on Wednesday, Chinaâ€™s
Ambassador to South Africa, Lin Songtian, said his office and South
Africaâ€™s Departments of International Relations and Home Affairs were
finalising the easing of visa requirements, as agreed by the two heads
of state.
Leso, who reiterated this, said once all legal requirements had been
dealt with, and went according to plan, the new visa regime could come
into effect on October 1.
The reciprocated agreement will see both South Africans and Chinese
travellers requiring one visa, valid for five years with multiple
entries allowed for up to 90 days each time.
â€œThis will encourage people to travel between the two countries and
learn from each other, and South Africa is the best tourism
destination in the world,â€ added Songtian.
As recently reported, Chinese arrivals to South Africa showed a
decline. According to Sisa Ntshona, CEO of South African Tourism, the
visa regime had been holding South Africa back.
â€œChina is the worldâ€™s second-largest source economy,â€ commented
Ntshona. With the new Chinese visa allowances in place, SAâ€™s Chinese
arrivals will hopefully begin to show positive growth, further
unlocking the potential of this major source market.

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