Tourism tragedy looming on Visa regulations
15 may 2015
The countdown has begun. In less than two weeks the new travel regulations for passengers travelling by air with children will come into effect.
It could cost the tourism sector over R6.8bn in losses and result in severe job cuts. This is according to information released by the Board of Airline Representatives South Africa.
From 1 June 2015 parents have to provide an unabridged birth certificate of all travelling children.
In addition, South Africans and foreigners have to provide details of the child's father and mother. This applies even when both parents are travelling with their children.
When children are travelling with guardians, these adults are required to produce affidavits from parents proving permission for the children to travel.
Unabridged birth certificate applications can take up to eight weeks to complete.
Airlines will be forced to refuse travel to families not in possession of these documents.
A child denied boarding by an airline ultimately means a family can’t travel and, by industry estimates, until traveller awareness is 100%, tourist arrivals to South Africa could be negatively impacted by up to 20%.
Based on 2013 numbers, 536 000 foreign visitors could be denied travel.
The lost income to South Africa from these high value visitors could be over R6.8bn annually, inevitably leading to job losses in the South African tourism sector.
The new immigration regulations have been widely criticised. The DA has made several submissions to streamline tourist facilitation by proposing the introduction of electronic visas and biometrics on arrival.
It is most alarming to read that several travel and tourism websites and online publications are warning travelers about these new regulations. It is without a doubt that this will harm our tourism industry and brand as a country of choice. We have proof of cancelations from several major tour operators that are marketing South Africa abroad.
The decrease in tourist arrivals will inevitably have enormous consequences for the tourism sector in South Africa. There is a real risk that we could lose jobs if these regulations are not changed.
I will therefore make a submission to the Portfolio Committee that the review panel instituted by the Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba, should include tourism operators. The tourism industry must be involved in the review to find practical solutions and present viable alternatives to in person visa applications such as the introduction of biometrics on arrival and electronic visas.
In countries where these systems have been implemented, they have proved to be very effective in terms of safety and turnaround times and their introduction would cost far less money than the country is currently losing from a decline in tourism numbers.
South Africa needs to be open for business with the world to grow our tourism economy and create much needed jobs.
Statement issued by James Vos MP, DA Shadow Minister of Tourism, May 15 2015
