By Linda Ensor | From BDlive

The Cabinet has decided to adopt measures to alleviate the unintended consequences of the controversial visa regulations which both Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom and Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba believe will address the dual challenges of SA’s security and the negative effect of the regime on tourism.

The concessions are aimed at facilitating the practical implementation of the regulations rather than their abolition, which opponents have lobbied for.

Mr Hanekom conceded at a post-Cabinet media briefing on Friday that the visa regulations had had a dampening effect on tourism, which has been identified as a key contributor to job creation in the National Development Plan (NDP). The biggest decline was from China.

The outcry over the regulations led to the creation of an inter-ministerial committee under Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to investigate the effect of the regulations, which require biometric identification of prospective travelers and unabridged birth certificates for the children accompanying them. Cabinet has endorsed these recommendations, which adjust the way the regulations will be implemented.

Most importantly, government plans to accredit travel agents in countries requiring visas, including China, India and Russia. These accredited travel agents will be able to take the visa applications to South African missions eliminating the need for prospective travelers to travel far distances to present themselves in person, which has acted as a deterrent to visitors. This programme could be extended to other countries that require visas.

Mr Gigaba explained that this system would mean that instead of the Department of Home Affairs managing the visa application process, the accredited travel companies would do so.

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