Since the Waiver of Visa for Angolan Travellers wanting to Visit South Africa on the 15th of December there has been a 55% Increase in Arrivals same for Russian with a 57% growth but with the new Visa requirements for New Zealand the numbers have declined by 29% over 2016 figures. It is against this background that the Minister of Tourism For South Africa lamented the over 22% decline of Nigerian Travellers to South Africa in 2017 against 2016 figures.
According to the Minister Derek Hanekom: “It is sad we are losing the Nigerians. I am told it is because of Visa issues and the feeling by Nigerians that South Africans Don’t want Tourists from Nigeria”
We are working on how to improve the Visa issues by using E-VIsa and Visa on Arrival for Nigerians with Visa for USA, Schengen and Australia he further said.
The Minister did this in an interaction with African Media.
Nigerian Journalists told him that Visa for frequent Travellers are declined and when they are given it is just for 3 months and you are required to stay for only 7 days at a time.
Xenophobia was also identified by Observers who believe that South Africans are unwelcome.
The South African Government is addressing all issues concerning the declining numbers of Nigerians as Africans delivered 78% of Arrivals for South Africa.
The issue of VFS the agency handling Visas for SA was raised. VFS accepts only 150 visa applications a day which means they can only process about 50,000 Visas in a year if all the applications are approved which is not always the case.
The SA Minister also hosted a meeting of Ministers of Tourism from the SADCC region.
Regional Tourism is a goal for many countries in Africa, an idea highly capable of boosting a country’s tourism revenue. Every country in Africa has a unique trait which makes them distinct from the other, a trait capable of attracting many regional tourists.
At Africa Travel Indaba, Tourism Ministers from several African Countries called for greater regional cooperation to ensure growth in tourism across the continent.
According to Inside Travel News, This emerged at the fifth African Ministerial Session hosted by South African Minister of Tourism Mr. Derek Hanekom in Durban at Africa’s Travel Indaba. This session aimed to lay a foundation for an integrated and sustainable tourism framework for the region.
“Tourism in Africa is advancing steadily and we have been able to leverage successfully on our geographical and cultural assets to attract tourists to our continent.”
“With global tourist arrivals predicted to reach 134 million by 2030, there is an increased need for us to address the challenges that hinder the growth of tourism.
“This will require that we find ways to work together to create an enabling environment that will facilitate synergy in the development of regional tourism products, and ensure the growth and sustainability of the African tourism market,” said Minister Hanekom.
Tourism Ministers from Angola, Kingdom of eSwatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe were joined by a panel of tourism experts to explore potential solutions to the challenges of regional integration.
The discussions emphasised the need for increased commitment from all African states in implementing the bilateral and multilateral agreements. This would encourage governments to ensure that the basic infrastructure and regulatory frameworks are in place to facilitate regional tourism growth.
African tourist arrivals increased by 8% (4 million tourists) to reach 58 million in 2016, and it supported 8.3 million direct jobs. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), this number is expected to increase to 11.6 million jobs by 2028.
United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) representative, Ms. Alcia Grandcourt stated that although it was important to recognise the economic gains of tourism, it is equally important to acknowledge the social benefits of peace and social cohesion brought on by tourism in the continent.
“Tourism is bringing us together and breaking down barriers and stereotypes as it has opened up the world for people to learn about its diverse cultures and heritage.”
“Our communities are a critical measure of the success of tourism. As we map the way towards an integrated tourism region, let us ensure that we take our communities with us to ensure sustainable tourism growth that will be enjoyed by future generations,” said Grandcourt.
