Cape Town – Travel agents say that although Home Affairs’ new hi-tech departmental contact centre is a step in the right direction, it’s simply “not enough”.
Home Affairs recently launched a new departmental contact centre that will bring immediate resolutions to customers’ queries. Travellers who have applied for an unabridged birth certificate can track the progress of their application by quoting their ID number to the operator at the centre, who will be able to see exactly what is delaying the application and when it will be ready.
“Sure, this is a positive development, but I’m not sure how effective it will be for travellers as the process remains the same,” says Mark Buck, MD United Europe. “It’s like going to a restaurant and knowing you have to wait 20 minutes for your pizza, but now you can get an update from the waiter every five minutes about how long it’s still going to take.”
“These new developments are simply a distraction from the real issue, which is why are the requirements to produce a UBC even in place?” adds Otto De Vries, CEO of the Association for South African Travel Agents (ASATA).
Says De Vries: “Our position remains unchanged and the expectation is to see the removal of the requirements, as it is not standard practice and can’t be proven to deal with the issue of child trafficking.”
Theresa Szejwallo, MD Travel Corporation and Trafalgar South Africa, agrees and says that making the process easier and simpler is a small advantage for the South African traveller. However, like De Vries, Szejwallo explains that the truth is that the requirements for unabridged birth certificates remains an important deterrent for travellers to and from South Africa.
What Home Affairs’ hi-tech solutions will mean for tourists
Cape Town – Travel agents say that although Home Affairs’ new hi-tech departmental contact centre is a step in the right direction, it’s simply “not enough”.
Home Affairs recently launched a new departmental contact centre that will bring immediate resolutions to customers’ queries. Travellers who have applied for an unabridged birth certificate can track the progress of their application by quoting their ID number to the operator at the centre, who will be able to see exactly what is delaying the application and when it will be ready.
“Sure, this is a positive development, but I’m not sure how effective it will be for travellers as the process remains the same,” says Mark Buck, MD United Europe. “It’s like going to a restaurant and knowing you have to wait 20 minutes for your pizza, but now you can get an update from the waiter every five minutes about how long it’s still going to take.”
“These new developments are simply a distraction from the real issue, which is why are the requirements to produce a UBC even in place?” adds Otto De Vries, CEO of the Association for South African Travel Agents (ASATA).
Says De Vries: “Our position remains unchanged and the expectation is to see the removal of the requirements, as it is not standard practice and can’t be proven to deal with the issue of child trafficking.”
Suspend peak season biometric capturing, urges industry association
The Department of Home Affairs must suspend of biometric capturing at South Africa’s airports for the duration of the peak season, said the Board of Airline Representatives South Africa (Barsa).
A shortage of trained immigration officials capable of capturing biometrics is leading to lengthy delays for international travellers, even causing them to miss connecting flights.
Crawford said Barsa would continue to seek ways through various stakeholders to find a solution to this ongoing problem. “The tourism industry is under duress during the busiest time of the year. In our view, the suspension of biometrics until after the peak season would be a short-term solution allowing for all parties to discuss the best way forward.”
Craig van Rooyen, Director of Tour d’Afrique, said he expected travel during the December period to be “majorly” affected by long queues at the airport and says the company has advised its international agents to allow a longer period between connections, working on three hours instead of two.
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Must-see cultural attractions include the traditional and modern
Tourism Update highlights not-to-be missed cultural attractions, as suggested by trade stakeholders.
A good starting point for an exploration of South Africa’s multi-cultures, and one that gets the vote of Laura Vercuil of Johannesburg Tourism, is the Origins Centre on the campus of Wits University in Johannesburg. Tracing an 80 000-year journey into the past, it highlights the earliest art and culture inspirations on the continent, as well as an exploration of San beliefs.
“When talking cultural attractions,” saysGaongalelwe Tiro, GTA’s Manager: Communications, “Lesedi Cultural Village in Broederstroom immediately comes to mind. It gives visitors an insight into the diverse cultures of the people of South Africa. The attraction is within an hour’s drive of Johannesburg.” Lesedi showcases the Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Basotho and Ndebele traditional ways of life.
But, as he further points out, modern, urban culture finds expression through cuisine, fashion and music. “Therefore, to take in the culture of the people Gauteng, one needs to traverse its streets and interact with them directly. Interacting with locals in Vilakazi Street, eating an authentically South African meal at a restaurant in Maboneng or visiting a nightspot in Mamelodi all help to immerse oneself in the culture of the people of Gauteng.”
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10 Things You Should Know About The Recession In Nigeria
Nigeria, the second largest economy in Africa, has a population of 167 million people making it the most populous country on the continent. The West African nation is also the second-top producer of oil in Africa, after Angola. It has been in an economic crisis since 2014 and slipped into a recession this year.
Below are 10 things to know about the economic recession in Nigeria.
Oil prices slide
The global fall in oil prices in mid-2014 pushed the economy into crisis. Oil is Nigeria’s leading export commodity and accounts for about 70 percent of the country’s annual budget. The fall in prices was compounded by militant attacks on its oil-rich Niger Delta region. The militants damaged Chevron offshore facility and an underwater Forcados export pipeline.
Investor fears
Nigeria received a record decline of capital importation as investor fears grew due to the recession. In the second quarter of the year, the country recorded a $647.1 million in capital importation, a fall of about 75.7 percent for a similar period in 2015.
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