DA MP says reports suggest that new tourist arrivals from China and India are down by 80 – 90% since 1 October
Visa requirements decimating BRICS tourism
03 November 2014
The new visa regulations implemented on 1 October are already having devastating implications for tourist arrivals in South Africa. Tourist arrivals from fellow BRICS countries in particular have been hit extremely hard. Reports suggest that new tourist arrivals from China and India are down by 80 – 90% since 1 October.
A number of South African tour operators have indicated, on the record, that they have experienced significant reductions in tourist arrivals:
Private Safaris and SA Magic Tours – both indicating that agents in China had stopped promoting travel to South Africa from 1 October onwards.
Africa Star Travel – stated that last year during this time they were working on many bookings for November, December, January and up until August for the year ahead. This year they have literally nothing for the New Year.
Quantum Travels – stated that the Indian business has been decimated with many agents in India diverting tourists to other destinations with friendlier visa policies. It added that SA has a very negative image around visas because of the “disastrous handling” of the issue by the Department of Home Affairs.
It is becoming clear that the new regulations are discouraging tourists from coming to South Africa. In China, there are only 3 locations to get a South African visa. In India, there are only 2 locations to find a visa. These are huge countries, where it will be impossible for millions of people to get South African visas in person.
The decrease in tourist arrivals will inevitably have enormous consequences for the tourism sector in South Africa. There is a real risk that we could lose jobs if these regulations are not changed.
These private sector companies must come to the Portfolio Committee on Tourism to present their experiences to the committee, so that we can help the ANC MPs who have supported the implementation of the visas to see the economic impact of these regulations. I will therefore write to the portfolio committee chairperson, Ms Beatrice Ngcobo asking her to invite these private vendors to the committee.
The regulations need to be reviewed to accommodate all role-players. These include tourism operators, airlines, migration specialists and foreign affairs, who should be involved in the review by the Home Affairs department to find practical solutions.
South Africa needs to be open for business with the world to create the jobs our people need.
Statement issued by James Vos MP, DA Shadow Minister of Tourism, November 4 2014
Visa requirements decimating BRICS tourism – James Vos 04 November 2014
DA MP says reports suggest that new tourist arrivals from China and India are down by 80 – 90% since 1 October
Visa requirements decimating BRICS tourism
03 November 2014
The new visa regulations implemented on 1 October are already having devastating implications for tourist arrivals in South Africa. Tourist arrivals from fellow BRICS countries in particular have been hit extremely hard. Reports suggest that new tourist arrivals from China and India are down by 80 – 90% since 1 October.
A number of South African tour operators have indicated, on the record, that they have experienced significant reductions in tourist arrivals:
Private Safaris and SA Magic Tours – both indicating that agents in China had stopped promoting travel to South Africa from 1 October onwards.
Africa Star Travel – stated that last year during this time they were working on many bookings for November, December, January and up until August for the year ahead. This year they have literally nothing for the New Year.
Quantum Travels – stated that the Indian business has been decimated with many agents in India diverting tourists to other destinations with friendlier visa policies. It added that SA has a very negative image around visas because of the “disastrous handling” of the issue by the Department of Home Affairs.
It is becoming clear that the new regulations are discouraging tourists from coming to South Africa. In China, there are only 3 locations to get a South African visa. In India, there are only 2 locations to find a visa. These are huge countries, where it will be impossible for millions of people to get South African visas in person.
The decrease in tourist arrivals will inevitably have enormous consequences for the tourism sector in South Africa. There is a real risk that we could lose jobs if these regulations are not changed.
These private sector companies must come to the Portfolio Committee on Tourism to present their experiences to the committee, so that we can help the ANC MPs who have supported the implementation of the visas to see the economic impact of these regulations. I will therefore write to the portfolio committee chairperson, Ms Beatrice Ngcobo asking her to invite these private vendors to the committee.
The regulations need to be reviewed to accommodate all role-players. These include tourism operators, airlines, migration specialists and foreign affairs, who should be involved in the review by the Home Affairs department to find practical solutions.
South Africa needs to be open for business with the world to create the jobs our people need.
Statement issued by James Vos MP, DA Shadow Minister of Tourism, November 4 2014
Don’t lose your Repatriation Deposits – South Africa
Anyone who has paid a Repatriation Deposit to the South African Department of Home Affairs to secure their temporary residence visas for South Africa, will lose this deposit if they do not claim it before the 28th February 2015. The Department is, in terms of the new requirements under the Immigration Amendment Act, 2011, no longer requiring repatriation deposits as a term or condition for issuing temporary residence visas.
This repatriation deposit was required by the Department of Home Affairs to cover the possible cost of deportation, should the individual need to be deported from South Africa. As this is no longer a requirement, the period for claiming this repatriation deposit expires on the 28 February 2015. Failure to claim a refund by 28 February 2015 will result in the deposit forfeited to the State as unclaimed.
For assistance to claim your repatriation deposit please contact Relocation Africa +27 (0)21 7634240 or tracy@relocationafrica.com
According to the Act No. 13 of 2002 [Section 10(5) as amended, read with Regulation 7(8) of the repealed Immigration Regulations, 2005]
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (Country risk rating: High); 27 to 28 October; Dozens killed in South Kivu flooding
A combination of flash floods and landslides resulted in at least 30 fatalities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)‘s South Kivu province between 27 and 28 October.
The majority of casualties were reported in the village of Bushushu, where a series of landslides destroyed as many as 700 residential and commercial properties, displacing an undisclosed number of people. Strategic infrastructure, including a number of roads and at least two bridges, was also damaged by flash flooding. The DRC is a large country with diverse weather patterns. Generally, the south of the country experiences its highest rainfall from November to March. Northern DRC, in which the province of South Kivu is located, experiences higher levels of rainfall from April to October. It should be noted that inclement weather is expected to persist across much of the region until 4 November, increasing the risk of further flooding in low-lying areas (including near rivers, such as the Congo) and landslides in mountainous regions. The road infrastructure, which is already poorly maintained across most of the country, may also be adversely affected. Due to various security concerns, all travel to South Kivu province is advised against. Persons currently in or intending to travel to the region despite this advisory should avoid the flood-affected areas, anticipate travel delays as a result of damaged road infrastructure, and exercise heightened caution in and around the aforementioned high-risk areas.
BURKINA FASO (Country risk rating: High); 28 to 30 October; Countrywide civil disobedience campaign begins
Security forces used teargas and baton charges to disperse anti-government protesters who took to the streets of Burkina Faso‘s capital, Ouagadougou, on 28 October. The incident marked the start of a countrywide civil disobedience campaign organised against the government of Blaise Compaore. Follow-up protests are expected in the capital and the city of Bobo-Dioulasso on 29 October, which will also be accompanied by a countrywide general strike. Opposition parties have called upon activists to block the Burkinabe National Assembly in Ouagadougou on 30 October. The civil disobedience campaign has been organised in response to government plans to submit a bill to the legislature (National Assembly) on 30 October which, if accepted, would allow the government to hold a referendum on amending Article 37 of the Constitution. If accepted, the amendment would extend presidential term limits. This would, in effect, allow the current and long-standing president, Blaise Compaore, to stand for re-election in November 2015.
If the amendment passes, an escalation in protest activity is possible in the coming weeks, including in the run up to any eventual referendum on the matter (late 2014 or early 2015). The threat of violence at all related gatherings is considered elevated. Persons in Burkina Faso over the coming week are advised to monitor local developments closely. All street protests, concentrations of security force facilities and travel at night should be avoided as a precaution. A heightened level of personal security awareness is advised in past and potential protest areas (public squares, government buildings and main roads). Clients should also ensure that fuel and other essential commodities, such as foodstuffs, are fully stocked in anticipation of possible protest-related business operating hour and supply chain disruptions.