These requirements will indeed impact on SA’s competitiveness as tourism and general travel destination. In fact, all over the world countries are relaxing visa requirements to promote their tourism. SA is doing the opposite.
For South Africans living abroad travelling to SA with their children can be extremely difficult as it is an undisputed fact that it could take well over six months to get an unabridged birth certificate from the Department of Home Affairs.
Hanekom said the regulations were revised with good intentions but the unintended negative consequences should be taken seriously. The most important good intention was to prevent child trafficking.
He said: “Any matter that could have a detrimental impact on international tourist arrivals to South Africa is a concern.”
Apparently his department would carefully consider negative impact on international tourist arrivals. But he did not say what he intends to do if tourist arrivals drop significantly.
