Last Friday was a day to remember for our tourism industry. While students across our country will remember it for their victory over the government, for South Africa’s tourism industry it was a day we shall never forget; in many respects it was the day our industry was saved. For South Africa’s economy, it was the day sanity finally prevailed. Sadly this victory and the opportunity it brings to lives of millions of South Africans has largely gone unnoticed by the media, but then again we have become somewhat accustomed to the lack of “good news” coverage by our media. Politics aside, the retraction of the visa requirements by the Department of Home Affairs is news worth celebrating, as combined with a weaker Rand and our exceptional value for money, it sets the stage for tourism to our shores to once again boom.
There are many beautiful places in the world to visit. South Africa is without any doubt a stunningly beautiful country, and while it offers exceptional value and unique experiences, it is not the only choice for long-haul visitors from around the world. It, therefore, does not take a genius to understand that we don’t need to make visitors’ lives more difficult than they already are, and it is important that we as a country understand and behave as a gateway to our region. A region we are all highly dependent on in inbound tourism. With Johannesburg forming a gateway to the subcontinent, any regulations that affect visitor numbers to South Africa, has a knock on effect to our neighbours, as the past six months have demonstrated.
Since the implementation of our Home Affairs Visa regulations earlier this year, we have seen international arrival numbers plummet, with the drop the equivalent to four jumbo jets of passengers arriving daily to our shores. For the first time since 1994, we saw airlines review their commitment to servicing the South African routing. Fortunately sanity finally prevailed, and with the support and lobbying by the airline, tourism and travel industries combined, the government did a complete u-turn on its upgraded visa requirements.
So what exactly is the good news, and what do the new regulations look like?
In a long and detailed statement, Home Affairs revealed that almost all of the new regulations were being dropped. It was explained that some changes are being introduced immediately, some over the next three months, and some over the next year or so.
There are many changes, but at the risk of oversimplification:
- the demand for unabridged birth certificates to be brought with children coming here is being dropped (but people will be urged to bring them, and will still have to use them to apply for visas);
- those needing visas will be able to apply through the postal service or use an accredited tourism company, depending on where they are; (for most source markets Visa’s will be issued on arrival and
- biometric information will be captured at international airports as they arrive.
Crucially, the demand that South African children travelling out of the country must have their unabridged birth certificates will remain, but the wording around the document will be changed, to make it slightly easier. School principals and those running sports teams who have been severely affected by the regulations will once again be able to sign consent forms to allow the children in and out of the country.
So the job of rebuilding our industry and brand South Africa has begun. Whether it is a case of bad politics or not, lessons have been learnt, but we as an industry remain grateful that proper governance won the day, and South Africans can look forward to welcoming guests from around the world by again making their visit to our magical continent as seamless as possible.