Obstacles to tourism growth will be addressed “more swiftly”.

This promise was reiterated by President Cyril Ramaphosa as he delivered the opening address at the Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) 2020 Business Economic Indaba at the Sandton Convention Centre yesterday afternoon (Tuesday).

Addressing about 400 business leaders, Ramaphosa acknowledged the frustration the nation has in government removing and changing certain policies.

One of the directors of BUSA and MD of The Banking Association SA, Cas Coovadia, told Tourism Update that he welcomed the fact that Ramaphosa had priotised tourism.

“For the past two years, BUSA has emphasised to the presidency and government that tourism is critical sector in this country and that the visa regulations as they were, were serious inhibitors to us leveraging off the advantage we have in the tourism industry.”

He pointed out that new visa regulations had been introduced and that BUSA would continue to track the matter of unabridged birth certificates, as it was inhibiting tourism growth.

“At the Indaba, the matters of safety and security as well as infrastructure within the tourism industry were discussed and we will continue that discussion with government,” said Coovadia.