Johannesburg - The local tourism industry will continue to struggle until February, when some visa regulations will be eased, says the Federated Hospitality Association of SA.
The association is the umbrella body for tourism-related businesses.
Chief executive Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa warned travellers not to be lulled by the concessions made recently by the Department of Home Affairs.
He was speaking after reports of foreign tourists being turned away at airports because they didn't have the proper documentation.
The Independent newspaper in the UK reported that between 10 and 20 families a day were being stopped from boarding flights to South Africa at Heathrow Airport during the pre-Christmas travel period.
Home Affairs, which claimed to have imposed the restrictions to combat human trafficking, made some concessions, but Tshivhengwa said:”Everything is still in place; you still need the unabridged birth certificate when travelling to the country. The only positive about the situation is that something is being done.”
He added: “The concessions to the visa regulations that have been made only come into effect on February 1.”
Attempts to get comment from the Department of Home Affairs were unsuccessful.
The Star