Minister of Tourism, Derek Hanekom, is hopeful that in the next few weeks the inter-ministerial committee will announce some adjustments to the current immigration regulations that will be more favourable to the tourism sector and other investments.
Speaking to Tourism Update on the side-lines at the Hospitality Investment Conference Africa 2015, Minister Hanekom said: “Firstly, it is good news that we are meeting as an inter-ministerial committee as it indicates how seriously government views tourism and is trying to attract investment into the country.” Minister Hanekom said it had been recognised that the current regulations had caused damage to the growth in the tourism sector.
“We would expect Home Affairs to contribute to the global effort of combating child trafficking but to do it in such a way that minimises the potentially negative impact on tourism growth and avoid placing excessively onerous requirements on travellers who want to come to South Africa.”
Minister Hanekom added that Home Affairs should make it easy for travellers to visit SA, without compromising on the key interests of the country. “I am hopeful that we will come up with a dispensation that will have been carefully considered and that will be better than what we currently have.” The Minister said he wouldn’t give any more details on the process.
http://touristswatch.com/?news=sa-minister-hopeful-adjustments-will-be-made-to-visa-regs
