SA`s visa regime hampering trade, tourism ambitions

Source: African News Agency, 21/06/2019

Cape Town - China`s top diplomat in South Africa, Ambassador Lin
Songtian, on Friday said Pretoria`s existing visa and permit laws for
non-citizens do not support the country`s ambitious drive to double
tourist arrivals and attract investors to boost the economy.
`The headache issue for the tourist and investor here ... it`s very
hard to get a visa to South Africa. His Excellency [President Cyril
Ramaphosa] addressed that question last night [during the State Of The
Nation Address],` Ambassador Lin said as he addressed journalists at
the Cape Town International Convention Centre after the signing
ceremony of more than 90 trade agreements.
`Given the size and scope of China-South Africa cooperation and
bilateral trade ... I`m sorry to tell you that you have only three
visa officials in China. How can you expect one million tourists to
come to South Africa? Only three visa officials in China, and we have
long queues to wait for the visa.
`If it`s hard for them [tourists] to get a visa, that means you are
refusing them to come. If they cannot come here as tourists, how can
they come here as investors? So that question is not difficult, it`s a
technical issue and I`m happy to be informed that the Honourable
Minister of Home Affairs has already taken a decision to send more
visa officials to China. I was very happy when I was informed this
morning.`
Lin said it remains `more difficult for a foreign investor to get a
work permit` in South Africa.
`It`s difficult for a high-tech company like Huawei ... a leading
company of technology in the world. Up to today, they complain to me
again and again that they cannot get work permits. In my view, for
such a high-tech company like Huawei, or a major investment like the
Coega Automobile, it is very important to provide the necessary work
permits to some of their key technical and high level management
personnel.`
Lin said Chinese companies were creating much needed jobs for the
South African population but that some of the executives had to be
brought from China, a costly exercise for the entities.
Delivering his State of the Nation Address on Thursday night,
President Cyril Ramaphosa said South Africa intends to double its
tourist arrival to 21 million by 2030. Some of the ways he hopes to
achieve this are through the renewal of the country’s brand and the
introduction of a world-class visa regime.
“We will make good on our ambition to more than double international
tourist arrivals to 21 million by 2030. This will be achieved through
the renewal of the country’s brand, introducing a world-class visa
regime and a significant focus on Chinese and Indian markets and air
arrivals from the rest of our continent,” said Ramaphosa in Parliament.