DA writes to Tourism Portfolio Committee on visa regulations

Jaimie-faith Poonah

08 June 2015

The Democratic Alliance has once again emphasised that the new visa regulations which came into effect last week Monday, will adversely affect tourism, economic growth and job creation in the country.

One of the regulations which have received major criticism requires children travelling in and out of the country to be in possession of an unabridged birth certificate.

DA MP of Tourism James Vos has written to the Tourism Portfolio Committee requesting Minister Derek Hanekom to explain the decision not to call for a review of the regulations.

Vos said we believe that these new travel and visa regulations must be suspended in order for a full review to take place, so that we can balance our country’s security with that of tourist facilitation.

Vos added that we need to grow our tourism market and we cannot allow these travel regulations to continue to threaten our South African economy, because tourism created jobs and therefore we must make it easier for international foreign arrivals but at the same time we also need to do it in such as way that we do not compromise our country’s safety.