There are two things the Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, should focus on to help the tourism industry recover more quickly post-COVID-19: full implementation of the e-visa programme and expansion of its visa-free travel reach.
This is according to Executive Director of Explore South Africa, Paul Coetzee, who has drafted his own appeal to the Minister following the open letter to Kubayi-Ngubane yesterday.
He writes that, while the tourism Industry is disappointed about the seeming lack of funding and attention toward it, this is something the Minister can address that does not require much funding and will make a huge difference.
Coetzee’s full letter follows:
I too have been involved in tourism marketing for 30-plus years.
While the tourism industry is disappointed about the lack of funding and attention (as delivered in President Ramaphosa’s COVID-19 battle plan) there is something you can do, Minister, that does not require much funding and will make a huge difference.
We don’t know when, but at some point, the sun will rise, the skies will open and the tourists will start to travel again. Before that happens, we ask you to complete two tasks. They were tasks that the ANC government said in 2016 should be done. They said again in 2018 it must be done. As we head towards 2021 it has NOT been done.
We call on you to ignite and motivate your responsible fellow ministerial colleagues to get it done.
Task 1: Fully implement an e-visa programme. We know that Home Affairs says it is pilot testing a model. It is relatively easy to write such a programme. Third World countries have been doing it for over 15 years. Why are we delaying it?
Task 2: Expand the number of countries that qualify for tourist visa-free travel to South Africa. We call on the relevant government department to draw up a list of all countries whose citizens could possibly pose a risk to the safety and security of South African citizens. Then grant ALL other countries visa-free travel to South Africa for 30 days – something Thailand has successfully implemented.
We are not asking a lot, Minister. All we are asking is that you arrange to get done what you were told to get done by your President.
