SOUTH AFRICA: International Airlines Want Changes Implemented Before Summer Holiday Season.

International airlines say it's important that new changes to travel regulations are implemented in time for them to take advantage of the summer holiday season.

On Friday, Cabinet announced that regulations requiring biometric visas for tourists and unabridged birth certificates for children travelling to South Africa were being changed.

The tourism industry had said the requirements meant they were losing millions as people simply went to other countries.

International airlines also say they're hoping travel regulations will be changed soon, so they can use the weaker rand to attract tourists for the summer season.

Virgin Atlantic’s Liezl Gericke says, “If it happens soon, we can still work very hard to save the summer season. It’s a huge opportunity for us as a European carrier to try to maximise on inbound tourism over the December/January period.”

Gericke says the weakness of the currency should help.

“The South African rand is really struggling and this overturn could not have come at a more opportune time when we can really capitalise on international tourism into the country.”

LISTEN: Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom says his department plans to communicate the changes to travel agencies and embassies around the world.

THE CHANGES:

WITHIN 3 MONTHS:

- Implement the capturing of biometrics at ports of entry starting with a pilot at OR Tambo, King Shaka and Cape Town airports.

- Look at introducing an accredited tourism company programme for countries like China, India and Russia.

- Consider a long-term multiple entry visa for a period exceeding three months and up to three years for frequent travellers (for business meetings), business people and academics.

- Principals will issue letters confirming permission for children to travel on school tours.

- Extend the validity of the parental consent affidavit to six months.

WITHIN A YEAR:

- Add visa facilitation centres, including in Zimbabwe, United Arab Emirates and Botswana.

- Consider a visa-waiver for India, China, Russia and other countries.

- Look at issuing visas on arrival for persons travelling to SA having in their passports valid visas for the UK, USA and Canada or any other country that applies stringent checks on visitors to their countries, to ease travel for tourists.

- Consider granting a certain category of frequent travellers (business and academics) from Africa a 10 year multiple entry visitor’s visa.

- Open two business visa facilitation centres in Durban and Port Elizabeth, in addition to the centre recently opened in Sandton.

- Print parents’ details in their passports so that they do not have to carry birth certificates.

LONG TERM & BEYOND:

- Install systems for pre-flight checks at international airports.

- Upgrade advance passenger processing systems and implement passenger name record, to enhance risk assessment.

- Finalise automation of the visa and permitting system.