South Africa to relax visa rules after tourism industry suffers

South Africa on Monday said it would make its new visa rules easier for visitors with children and those from India, China and Russia, after tourism numbers dropped this year.

A statement by the Department of Home Affairs said that South Africa’s cabinet accepted recommendations from a committee appointed by President Jacob Zuma in August to look at the rules’ impact on the tourism sector.

A rule requiring a parent to carry a child’s unabridged birth certificate when visiting South Africa would be relaxed to allow the original or a certified copy to be shown just at the visa application stage, the department said.

Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom said in July the rules had to be relaxed after a “worrying drop” in visitor numbers, but Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba argued at the time that they were needed to guard against child trafficking.

Tourists from China dropped sharply because prospective visitors had to appear at the South African embassy or consulate in person, enduring long treks to the office.

The department promised to “ease the process of application, in particular for tourists,” from countries like China, India and Russia.

These could include a long-term multiple entry visa for over three months and up to three years for frequent travellers, the department said.

South Africa is also considering a visa-waiver for India, China, Russia and other countries, and visas on arrival for visitors who have valid visas for Britain, the US, Canada or other countries that apply stringent checks.

Industry leaders have said the new rules are costing around $540 million a year in lost revenue by making it more complicated for foreigners, drawn by natural attractions such as the Kruger National Park, Table Mountain and the Sterkfontein Caves.