New visa rules ‘led to drop in tourism’

File photo: Minister of Tourism Derek Hanekom. Picture: Timothy Bernard

File photo: Minister of Tourism Derek Hanekom. Picture: Timothy Bernard

Published Jul 30, 2015

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Johannesburg - South Africa's new visa regulations have led to a “worrying drop” in foreign visitors and a new approach may be needed, tourism minister Derek Hanekom said on Wednesday.

Last year South Africa implemented new rules requiring visitors to provide biometric data when applying for visas, a problem for people in large countries like China, which only has South African consulates in Beijing and Shanghai.

Further new legislation rules implemented in June require parents to carry unabridged birth certificates when travelling with children, a rule heavily criticised by the tourism industry and some foreign governments.

Reuters

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