The ability to facilitate convenient and efficient visa processing for international visitors is critical to growing South Africa's tourism economy and industry associations are urgently calling for structured engagement between the tourism industry and the Department of Home Affairs.
“Such a dialogue would enable us to convey the on-the-ground frustrations faced by our international visitors and explore the ongoing and planned improvements to the eVisa technology that the Minister (of Home Affairs, Aaron Motsoaledi) mentioned,” said David Frost, CEO of the inbound industry association, SATSA.
He was responding to a statement issued by Motsoaledi on Sunday (March 17) refuting allegations that his department is “chasing away tourists from South Africa" following an internal circular that was issued by the department on December 21 last year.
The directive demanded that visitors who have not received visa renewals by February 23 to immediately depart South Africa.
This directive overruled the previous agreement allowing visitors an additional 90-day extension while awaiting visa renewals.
Briefing the media, Motsoaledi explained that the circular was directed to the Commissioner of the Border Management Authority (BMA), as well as managers of ports of entry. The circular was also sent to Provincial Inspectorate and Visa Facilitation Centres.
The Minister said the circular was meant to guide BMA officials at the ports of entry on what to do when they encountered nationals of other countries falling within particular categories at the borders. This includes individuals who have applied for visa extensions, waivers or appeals and have not yet received their outcomes – negative or positive.
“I wish to emphasise that this circular was an internal communications document. It was targeted for Home Affairs and BMA officials, who I have mentioned.
“Rather than guide anybody, unfortunately this document raised a storm in the media and within establishments that have to do with tourism,” Motsoaledi said.
The Minister said the Department of Home Affairs was accused of weakening, and even risking the collapse the tourism industry.
‘DHA would gain nothing by destroying the tourism industry’
“I wish to state categorically that the Department of Home Affairs would gain nothing by destroying the tourism industry, which is regarded as one of the pillars of the economy, not only in South Africa but in many other countries.”
Motsoaledi further explained that the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism always worked in partnership on issues of tourism because both departments were important in this regard, and this particular issue was no exception.
Frost said: “SATSA appreciates Minister Motsoaledi and the Department of Home Affairs' stated support for the tourism sector and its stated efforts to improve the eVisa system.
“However, the reality is that significant challenges remain with our visa regime that are hampering tourism growth from key markets. South Africa currently ranks only 32nd out of 54 African countries in terms of visa openness, according to the Africa Visa Openness Report.”
Frost highlighted that many of SA’s neighbours had recognised the economic importance of more liberal visa policies and were exploring streamlined visa processes, visa waivers for specified nationalities, and e-visa systems to ease entry.
“Unfortunately, South Africa finds itself at a competitive disadvantage compared to destinations with less stringent visa policies in the region. Even with the eVisa and visas-on-arrival options available for several source markets, travellers still report difficulties, including excessive delays in visa issuance, technical problems with the eVisa system, and a cumbersome application process.”
The South African eVisa portal has faced criticism for being hard to navigate, frequent system failures, communication issues, document upload errors, and backlogs that influence the length of time it is taking to issue visas. These challenges deter potential visitors – whether they are tourists or travelling to host or attend an event – from choosing South Africa.
Owner and Director of DMC, Alpha Destinations, Angela Matthews, who first brought the visa issues to Tourism Update’s attention, agreed with Frost, noting: “An agent in Mexico, who sends us a good amount of business every year (about R6 million – €29.2m) to R8 million – €38.9m) has just told us that since the recent arrival of the new South African Consul in Mexico City, visa applications have become much more tedious and timeous, they are now calculating three months between application and receipt of the visa.”
She added: “Needless to say, we are moving more and more of his business towards East Africa.”
‘Concerned about practical challenges’
Frost said: “While we appreciate Minister Motsoaledi's assurances, we remain concerned about the practical challenges that continue to plague the visa processing system.
“The current delays in visa processing and the complexities faced by tourists from key growth markets such as India and China significantly hinder our ability to attract a larger volume of international travellers, who are essential for the sustainable growth of our tourism sector.”
Frost pointed to the recent growth in visitor numbers from the United States following expanded air access, noting that there was “immense opportunity for growth” if SA could get the visa piece of the puzzle right, especially for high-volume, high-spend markets that can dramatically increase tourism receipts and job creation.
“But in those markets, ease of visa processing must come first before airlines will commit to adding direct routes.”
‘Starkly different picture’
National Chair of hospitality association, FEDHASA, Rosemary Anderson, pointed out that while Motsoaledi regarded the ensuing media storm and the distress among the tourism sector as unintended consequences of an internal document, the reality presented a starkly different picture.
The experiences shared globally by ‘Swallows’ – tourists who migrate seasonally in search of warmer climates – attested to a more distressing outcome, she said. “These narratives, far from being isolated, have reverberated through international communities, painting South Africa as a destination fraught with visa challenges.
“It is a matter of fact that the circular, though intended for internal use, became a public concern that significantly dented the image of South Africa's tourism sector. The delay in addressing and retracting the circular allowed for widespread dissemination of negative experiences, solidifying a perception of South Africa as unwelcoming.”
Anderson commented that this incident underscored a recurrent theme in the country’s visa regime's history – “well-meaning policies that inadvertently deter tourism and tarnish our reputation on the global stage”.
According to her, this incident might not only have affected the immediate plans of many international visitors but had also sown seeds of doubt about South Africa's openness as a tourist destination.
“The damage inflicted by the circular – including forcing individuals to leave and marking them persona non grata for a period – goes beyond mere inconvenience. It has eroded the essential confidence and security that tourists seek when choosing a destination.”
Proposals for visa regulation Improvements
In response to these challenges, FEDHASA has proposed several key improvements to the visa regulation framework:
- Introduction of longer-term visas: Recognising the seasonal migration patterns of international visitors, particularly from Europe and America, South Africa should consider the introduction of longer-term visas. These visas would accommodate stays beyond the traditional three-month period, catering for those with the financial means to spend extended periods in the country without seeking employment.
- Streamlining the visa extension process: The current process for extending visas, crucial for visitors wishing to stay longer than three months, must be simplified and made more transparent. The receipt of a visa extension application should be recognised as a valid interim measure to allow applicants to remain in the country while awaiting the outcome.
- Addressing the backlog and improving communication: Efforts must be intensified to address the significant backlog in visa processing and to improve communication with applicants. This includes providing timely updates on application status and resolving technical issues within the eVisa system to ensure a smoother, more reliable experience.
- Promoting tourism recovery and economic growth: It is imperative that all barriers to entry for international visitors be critically examined and addressed. By making strategic adjustments to our visa policies, we can encourage longer stays, increase spending in our economy, and accelerate the recovery of the tourism sector.
