With South Africa’s tourist high season approaching, 43% of respondents to Tourism Update’s latest poll believe the country does not have adequate capacity to accommodate demand for the destination.

This is despite a marked ramp up in the frequencies of international airlines’ flights from around the world to accommodate increased demand ahead of the Southern Hemisphere summer season.

A strong proportion of respondents (37%) believe this air capacity is sufficient for the season ahead. The remaining 20% are “unsure”.

Up to the end of August this year, tourist arrivals in South Africa were just over 5.8 million. The Department of Tourism is targeting 10.7 million arrivals by the end of the year.

What are the barriers to capitalising on visa reforms?

The long-awaited introduction of South Africa’s remote working visa, along with a points-based system to evaluate scarce skills visas and general work visas, has been received with widespread approval from the tourism sector.

The reforms are expected to bring an influx of long-term visitors who will contribute substantially to local economies. As summed up by FEDHASA National Chairperson Rosemary Anderson:

“Remote workers and digital nomads are like long-term tourists. They'll be staying in our guesthouses, dining in our restaurants, working from our coffee shops and exploring our tourist attractions. This sustained economic activity is exactly what our industry needs to thrive and create more jobs.”

The success of the initiative now hinges on proper implementation. We want to know your views on the biggest challenges in ensuring the effectiveness of the reforms.

Our poll question this week is: