Tourism sector lauds policy shift
PLUS: NO SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS FOR FOREIGN KIDS
SA travel, tourism and hospitality industries lost hundreds of millions of rands due to the restrictions.
Minister of Home Affairs Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has given the tourism industry a boost by deciding to allow accompanied children of foreign nationals to enter the country without supporting documents.
In what has been hailed as “a significant policy shift” by government, tourists aged up to 16 years are now no longer required to produce unabridged birth certificates or consent letters when travelling to the country, as was the case in the past.
This is expected to increase international tourism during the festive season.
“It is significant that we have completed the policy changes in the week in which President Cyril Ramaphosa hosted the second SA Investment Conference,” Motsoaledi said. “We anticipate this change will have a positive impact on tourism as we approach the holiday season.
“This improvement in our admissions policy builds on the work the department has been doing to contribute to economic growth and investment.
“Foreign children can now enter and depart the country without being required to provide birth certificates, consent letters and other supporting documents relating to proof of parentage.”
The department has communicated the changes, which came into immediate effect last Friday, to all immigration officials at ports, airline and maritime entry points.
In line with the requirements of the Children’s Act, South African children were still required to provide supporting documents, as were unaccompanied foreign children.
South African Tourism acting chief executive officer Sthembiso Dlamini welcomed the news, saying it would make it easier to market the country as a tourism destination.
“In all our markets, family travel is a key driver for arrivals and we compete with many other destinations for the share of family travel.
“The waiver will allow us to proactively and aggressively market South Africa as a family-friendly destination.
“Following our recent roadshows to the UK, central Europe and North America, some of the feedback received was that we were starting to lose ground in the family travel market as families were choosing other destinations ahead of SA due to the regulations around travelling with minors. With this change, we can now work on regaining this market.”
South Africa was “an ideal family destination with convenient long-haul connections from all parts of the world”, said Dlamini.
She added that South Africa was also malaria-free “making it an attractive option for families wanting to experience safaris and wildlife without having to take medication”. “Accommodation establishments across the country also cater for the needs of families. There is an abundance of fun to be had in South Africa for families travelling with children of all ages.”
Regarding the target of 21 million tourist arrivals by 2030 set by Ramaphosa, Dlamini said this change “will certainly prove to be a catalyst for us to achieve the goal”.
Also welcoming the change was the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA). CEO Chris Zweigenthal said AASA estimated the country’s travel, tourism and hospitality industries had lost hundreds of millions of rands over the past five years due to the restrictions. “This is a good start, but there are other corrective interventions to be made and red tape to be slashed.”
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SA losing ground in family travel market