South Africa has decided to waive visas for Tanzanian visitors from November 1, a cause championed by South African Airways. The visa exemption is valid for a maximum period of 90 days a year and applies to holiday and business visits and to those in transit to other countries. The airline announced in a statement: “With assistance from South Africa’s mission in Dar es Salaam, we have finally received a positive result that we are thrilled to share with you. We are ecstatic to announce that our efforts in this regard have paid off.”

In 2006, former President Thabo Mbeki and Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete already agreed to remove visa restrictions between the two countries but nothing materialized. The situation caused a general outcry from Tanzanian citizens. The editor of The Guardian on Sunday said in his column: “A Tanzanian intending to travel to South Africa has to obtain a visa – a process fraught with red tape that involves submission of many documents and bothersome form-filling.”

The visa waiver comes at a time when the Tanzanian travel market, both inbound and outbound, is rapidly expanding. South African online travel agency Travelstart recognised the country’s potential and opened an office in Tanzania in October this year.

Moustafa Khataw, Chairman of the Tanzanian Society of Travel Agents (Tasota), says the visa waiver has boosted the popularity of South Africa with Tanzanian travellers. Preferred destinations seem to be Sun City, Durban and Cape Town. He says for the moment, mainly executives and middle management travellers explore South Africa. They are interested in leisure, shopping and business opportunities. The South African High Commission in Tanzania says Johannesburg is also a big draw for Tanzanian travellers as there is quite a big Tanzanian community in the city.

According to statistics released by South African Tourism, in 2006 South Africa witnessed 9 766 air arrivals from Tanzania, representing 3,1% of SADC air arrivals, and 3 371 land arrivals.