South Africa: South Africa Records Worst Decline In More Than Two Decades Following New Visa Laws

According to a report by accounting company Grant Thornton, South Africa has lost about R1.6-billion in direct spending from overseas tourists. The company based its findings on tourist figures from the first three months of this year.

The decline recorded is the worst in more than two decades.

New legislation demanding tourists to apply in person at South African embassies abroad as well as have their biometric data captured before being granting a visa is the reason behind the drop in tourism.

Another legislation demands parents travelling in or out of the country with children who are 17 or younger to produce an unabridged birth certificate showing both parents’ details.
The country had shown a loss of 1600 tourists – or four jumbo jets – per day, cites Grant Thornton advisory services director Lee-Anne Bac.

Overseas and local tour operator newsletter SA Tourism Update attributed the decline to new immigration regulations.