South Africa introduced new visa rules on Monday to combat human trafficking that business and tourism groups warn will curb travel to the country and stifle economic growth.
The regulations require tourists to apply in person at a visitor centre for travel documents, which need to be in English, and that all children must have a birth certificate with full details of both parents. This will hurt an industry that accounts for 9% of the country’s gross domestic product, according to the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci).
“The negative implications to the tourism industry is counterproductive to the economic development intentions we have as a country,” Sacci president Vusi Khumalo said by phone. Earlier, the Johannesburg-based chamber described the law as “tantamount to economic sabotage,” in an e-mailed statement.
More than nine million tourists visit South Africa each year. The government is targeting an annual income of R500-billion from tourism by 2020 and 225 000 new jobs as it seeks to cut a 26% unemployment rate.
“We don’t see how asking children to get permission for traveling without their parents is economic sabotage,” Department of Home Affairs spokesperson Mayihlome Tshwete said by phone. “Those who argue that asking children to ask for consent is economic sabotage need to show us how our economy develops when children don’t get consent to travel.”
Deterring tourists
Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom said on May 14 the regulations are deterring tourists from travelling to South Africa. “It would be difficult not to conclude that the visa regulations are having an impact,” he said. “We are worried about it. We cannot sweep it under the carpet.”
He did not provide figures, but the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (Satsa), along with the Southern African Travel Agents and the Board of Airline Representatives South Africa, have reported that from May to December last year, the country lost 66 000 foreign tourists as a result of new regulations being introduced by the Department of Home Affairs.
“The total direct, indirect and induced impact on the economy in 2014 was a negative R2.6 billion and a potential loss of more than 5 800 jobs,” they reportedly said.
Last week, Air China announced it was postponing direct flights to South Africa until the end of October because of the new travel regulations and the recent xenophobic attacks.
International tour operators and travel agents have also removed South Africa from their destination brochures due to the new regulations.