Despite an undertaking from the department of Home Affairs to process visa applications by post for travellers from countries where SA has no missions, embassies are insisting travellers make their applications in person.
In October the department stated that within three months applications would be accepted by post for travellers from countries where SA had no missions, following a directive from the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) tasked with reviewing South Africa’s immigration regulations.
“The idea is that applications will go to the nearest embassy,” said Mayihlome Tshwete, Spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), told Tourism Update.
However, while Tshwete implied that the visa application process would be as simple as downloading a form, filling it out and posting it, embassies have said that applications must be made in person. South Africa’s Embassy in Finland, which processes visa applications for Estonians, told Tourism Update that Estonians needed to apply for visas in person.
Similarly, South Africa’s Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, told a traveller in contact with Tourism Update that, while they were aware of the statement from DHA dated October 21, 2015, there had been no implementation as yet.
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SA to get 2 600 new hotel rooms in five years
Despite South Africa’s weakened economy, its hotel industry is set for steady growth in the next five years, with both rooms and occupancy levels expected to rise, according to a report released by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC). The growth is driven by an increase in the number of foreign visitors to the African continent. “Although the South African economy has weakened considerably, the overall outlook for hotels in South Africa is expected to remain positive,” said Pietro Calicchio, Industry Leader of Hospitality & Gambling at PWC Southern Africa.
According to the report, the outlook for South Africa between 2016 and 2020 is positive. “There are a number of major hotels expected to open in the next five years and several others are in the planning stage. The number of available hotel rooms are projected to rise at a 0.8% compound annual rate to 63 700 in 2020 from 61 100 in 2015,” says the report. “It is promising to see a growing number of new hotels that are planned for the South African market over the next five years. We are forecasting an additional 2 600 hotel rooms to be added over the next five years,” says Calicchio.
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Embassies in the dark over postal visa applications
Despite an undertaking from the department of Home Affairs to process visa applications by post for travellers from countries where SA has no missions, embassies are insisting travellers make their applications in person.
In October the department stated that within three months applications would be accepted by post for travellers from countries where SA had no missions, following a directive from the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) tasked with reviewing South Africa’s immigration regulations.
“The idea is that applications will go to the nearest embassy,” said Mayihlome Tshwete, Spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), told Tourism Update.
However, while Tshwete implied that the visa application process would be as simple as downloading a form, filling it out and posting it, embassies have said that applications must be made in person. South Africa’s Embassy in Finland, which processes visa applications for Estonians, told Tourism Update that Estonians needed to apply for visas in person.
Similarly, South Africa’s Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, told a traveller in contact with Tourism Update that, while they were aware of the statement from DHA dated October 21, 2015, there had been no implementation as yet.
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South Africa: Zim to Issue IDs, Passports in SA
South Africa has given Zimbabwe the nod to deploy its officers to issue passports, birth certificates and national identity cards to locals residing in the neighbouring country. Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Cde Obedingwa Mguni said the documents would be issued from selected points in the neighbouring country as soon as South African authorities identify sites to conduct the exercise.He said his ministry would approach Botswana with the same request.
“We have approached the South African government seeking permission to issue passports, birth certificates and National IDs from their country and they have given us the go ahead.
“Our South African counterparts are now in the process of identifying places where we can conduct this exercise. When the locations have been submitted, we will immediately deploy our teams to the neighbouring country,” the deputy minister said.
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South Africa welcomes a growing number of foreign visitors
A recent report from PwC shows that revenue from hotel room accommodation in South Africa increased by 8.1 per cent in 2015 to R14.2 billion (US$1 = R13.7). Hotel room revenue is projected to expand at a 7.8 per cent compound rate overall, reaching R20.6 billion in 2020.
This growth is driven by an increase in visitor numbers and comes following a previous decline in the number of foreign visitors after new visa regulations were introduced. The new increase is speculated to be connected to an ease in certain of these regulations.
“The devaluation of the rand and the relaxation of certain visa regulations has had a positive impact on the tourism industry in South Africa, making the country a more attractive tourism destination,” confirmed industry leader of hospitality and gambling at PwC Southern Africa Pietro Calicchio. “This has also had a positive impact on the number of foreign visitors to South Africa over the past six months.”
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