On 23 october, the government of south africa announced that it would consider relaxing visa requirements for citizens of the brics countries such as china, russia and india and reducing the documentation of foreign tourists entering the country with children, in order to mitigate the impact on south african tourism since the introduction of the new visa regulations。
In june this year, the south african ministry of the interior introduced new visa regulations, which require tourists applying for south african visas to travel to south african embassies to enter biological information, foreign citizens who enter the country with children under 18 years of age must provide birth certificates for the child, and if either parent does not accompany the minor on his/her journey, the full unexpunged birth certificate must be accompanied by a parental consent or equivalent document. The two provisions have greatly undermined the enthusiasm of foreign citizens to travel to south africa。
According to the findings of the commission of inquiry set up in august by president zuma of south africa, south africa's tourism industry has been severely damaged in the first quarter of this year, with a 38 per cent decline in tourists from china, a 13 per cent decline in indian tourists and an overall 6 per cent decline in foreign tourists, the largest decline since the 2009 global financial crisis. The government of south africa indicated that, since the introduction of the new regulations, the loss of sites such as the south african table mount and crogg national park has reached $540 million。
In view of this, the south african ministry of home affairs has decided to adopt three phases to reform the visa policy currently in force. These measures include the discontinuation of the requirement for tourists to apply for visas in person at south african embassies and consulates for the next three months, instead allowing tourists to apply for visas, including through mail. Consideration is being given to issuing multiple return visas for three months to three years for travellers, business people and scholars who travel regularly to south africa to attend business meetings. Within one year, exemptions will be considered for china, india, russia and other countries. Consider the issuance of 10-year round-trip entry signatures for business people and scholars travelling frequently to africa. Long-term plans of one year or more include the automation of visa and licensing systems。
The south african ministry of home affairs stated that these policies would balance south africa's national security and economic interests without endangering the safety of children。
