Derek Hanekom on the need to reform SA’s visa system to boost tourism

South Africa's Tourism Minister, Derek Hanekom, spoke to CNBC Africa's Lubabalo Mashiqana on the sidelines of the World Travel and Tourism Council about the pressing need to address the country's visa challenges in order to enhance tourism. The event marked the first African Leaders Forum hosted by the World Travel and Tourism Council, signifying a significant milestone in promoting regional tourism cooperation. Hanekom emphasized the pivotal role of the private sector in driving tourism growth and underscored the importance of collaboration between industry players and governments in creating a conducive environment for tourism development. President Cyril Ramaphosa's vision to double the 700,000 direct jobs generated by the tourism sector in South Africa prompted Hanekom to outline a strategic plan to achieve this ambitious goal. He highlighted the untapped potential of overseas tourists as key job creators and emphasized the need to intensify marketing efforts and address regulatory barriers to attract more international visitors. One crucial aspect of this strategy is reforming the country's visa system to streamline the entry process and enhance the overall tourist experience. Hanekom cited successful examples of visa waivers with countries like Russia, which led to a substantial increase in visitor numbers, as evidence of the positive impact of visa facilitation on tourism growth. He stressed the importance of making it easier for tourists to enter South Africa by improving airport infrastructure, training immigration officials, and implementing efficient visa application processes. Hanekom also addressed the upcoming launch of an e-visa system in South Africa, which aims to simplify the visa application process and enhance the overall efficiency of entry procedures. In response to concerns about the delay in implementing e-visas for South African citizens, Hanekom assured that the government is making significant progress in piloting an e-visa system with New Zealand and intends to roll out e-visas for all countries requiring visas in the near future. He acknowledged the importance of capturing biometric data efficiently and emphasized the need for friendly and efficient immigration officials to improve the arrival experience for tourists. As South Africa seeks to position itself as a tourism-friendly destination and capitalize on its diverse attractions, Hanekom's advocacy for visa system reform and enhanced entry procedures underscores the government's commitment to fostering sustainable tourism growth. By addressing visa challenges and implementing innovative solutions, South Africa aims to bolster its tourism industry, create more jobs, and attract a larger share of international visitors, thus contributing to the country's economic development and global competitiveness.