Western Cape Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, David Maynier, has submitted letters to the Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, and Minister of Home Affairs, Aaron Motsoaledi, requesting national government to urgently introduce a remote working visa to allow international visitors to stay longer and work remotely while travelling in South Africa.

“The Western Cape has everything it takes to be the best remote working location in the world if we remove the red tape and roll out the red carpet for digital nomad tourists,” said Maynier.

He said he had also written to the Deputy Minister of Finance, David Masondo, in his role as part of Operation Vulindlela. “Removing regulatory barriers such as this one will be key to driving investment in South Africa and stimulating overall economic recovery and growth.”

Globally, many countries are competing to capture the market for the longer-stay tourists who can work online from anywhere in the world while earning and spending foreign currency in the country they are visiting. 

“This is an important market right now, as this type of tourist is more resilient to the challenges that traditional tourism is facing, given ongoing travel restrictions. Such tourists will also remain an important source of sustainable tourism long after the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Maynier.

Announcing his support for the ‘Remote Working Visa’, Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde, said: “Given the severe impact that COVID-19 has had on the tourism sector in South Africa, this innovative visa would be a great contribution to our recovery.”

In addition, to ensure that digital nomads are considering the province as a destination for remote work, tourism, trade and investment agency, Wesgro, will launch a dedicated portal that curates and promotes a range of accommodation establishments and services across multiple locations to guide those looking for longer-stay options in the Western Cape. 

This follows a campaign run in partnership with Airbnb to promote remote working domestically, encouraging South Africans to take advantage of the flexibility that working from anywhere brings. 

Maynier pointed out that Cape Town had recently made the 2021 list for the 50 ‘Best Cities for Remote Working’ according to the global travel guide, Big 7 Travel.

“However, many of our small, coastal towns such as Langebaan and Hermanus are also proving very popular with those looking for destinations that offer good connectivity and a great outdoor lifestyle,” said Maynier.

EDITOR’S NOTE

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced in October last year that, “to fast-track the delivery of economic reforms”, Operation Vulindlela would be implemented as a joint initiative of The Presidency and National Treasury.

Operation Vulindlela is a government-wide approach through which Ministers, departments and entities implement structural reforms. A Vulindlela unit in The Presidency and National Treasury monitors progress and actively supports implementation. Its aim is to fast-track the implementation of high-impact reforms, addressing obstacles or delays to ensure execution on policy commitments.