Visa amendments to boost tourism - expert
Tourism expert and lecturer at the Tshwane University of Technology, Unathi Sonwabile, believes the new visa amendments will boost tourism in the country.
Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba announced the visa amendments in Pretoria on Tuesday.
This is parts of government's new economic stimulus package aimed at boosting tourism and investment.
Speaking to the media, Gigaba said foreign nationals travelling with minors would no longer need to produce an unabridged birth certificate or parental consent unless it is deemed a high-risk situation.
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Sonwabile believes all government stakeholders need to play a more significant role in increasing tourism.
"That means we should also open the skies and have safety and security," says Sonwabile.
He says offering free visa travelling, opening the skies and safety and security will double tourists from 10 to 20 million within a year.
The unabridged certificate required by the Department of Home Affairs had a significant impact on tourism for the country, says Sonwabile.
He adds following the United States model of 10-year multiple entries visa is highly recommend.
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