admin
Roberta Katunga in Harare Senior Business Reporter
SOUTH Africa’s new visa regulations, which require children under the age of 18 to produce an Unabridged Birth Certificate at all ports of entry to the country will have possible negative effects on the sub-Sahara African region’s tourism sector, a senior Government official said. Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Engineer Walter Mzembi said the regulations were likely to affect Zimbabwe and the rest of sub-Saharan African countries as South Africa was the main port of entry for travellers.
Under the new law, all minors under the age of 18 years are required to produce, in addition to their passport, an Unabridged Birth Certificate (showing the particulars of both parents) when exiting and entering South African ports of entry.
Minister Mzembi in his capacity as chairperson of Southern African Development Community committee of tourism ministers and Commission for Africa chairperson assured South Africa Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom that he was fully behind his stance of opposing the new regulations as they would affect the tourism industry.
“This is a regressive law for tourism economies and we hope to be able to support you in South Africa not just for what we see as the beginning of the deceleration of the growth of the South African economy but also the contagion effect that the law will have on our own tourism economies.
“South Africa by its scale and size is not a competitor to Zimbabwe but a source market as 70 percent of our arrivals are from SA and such a law naturally will have an impact on arrivals into Zimbabwe and elsewhere in the region,” said Eng Mzembi.
He said the South Africa tourism market had been a big source of income for the neighbouring country and hoped the government would revise the law.
Minister Mr Hanekom said there were intense discussions in his country on the issue.
“Tourism is about negotiating and having discussions with a variety of other ministers like Home Affairs or Health and the police. We all want to forge a path that will not harm any sector of the economy,” said Mr Hanekom.
According to reports from SA, a team of Ministers from the economic and security clusters, which includes the Department of Tourism, will be set up to address the new immigration laws that have raised concerns in various sectors.
“The team which will be assembled by Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba is expected to discuss and engage with the concerns with the aim of finding ways to address the unintended consequences brought about by the implementation of these regulations,” said acting Cabinet spokesperson, Phumla Williams.
According to the Southern African tourism update, the Southern African Tourism Services Association (Satsa) remains opposed to the requirement for all children under 18 to carry certified copies of birth certificates and supporting documentation.
“Satsa and its members will continue to lobby for an equitable solution that balances security issues with tourism growth. Our objections are based on the lack of proper consultation with all stakeholders; the lack of economic impact study and the lack of sufficient research produced to quantify the size of the child trafficking issue in South Africa”.
Online Reporter