As South Africa prepares to implement its electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system, tourism stakeholders are raising urgent questions about the possible inclusion of visa-exempt travellers and the potential impact on inbound tourism. The Department of Home Affairs has stated that the list of eligible nationalities will only be announced at the time of the official launch slated for September.
While the move towards an ETA system is “a step in the right direction” towards streamlined and secure travel, the process must be “consultative, transparent and thoroughly tested”, said David Frost, CEO of SATSA. He warned that applying the ETA to travellers from visa-exempt countries will risk creating “unnecessary obstacles at a time when the sector should be focused on rebuilding demand”.
“There is no rationale for applying an ETA to countries that are already visa-free for short-term stays,” said Frost. “We strongly support digital modernisation but it must be sought out by collaboration, practical implementation and traveller-centric thinking.”
A phased pilot approach would be “far more prudent”, Frost added, referencing Kenya’s recent experience, which saw “system inefficiencies and major disruptions for travellers and tourism stakeholders”.
Sabine Blehle, CEO of GoVacation Africa, echoed concerns about implementation. While noting that the ETA system “could significantly improve the arrival experience” if it results in faster processing at immigration, Blehle cautioned that the additional step could deter spontaneous travel and confuse older or less tech-savvy visitors.
“The new system must be clear, user-friendly and multilingual,” she said. “Communicating any changes well in advance is critical. Training videos and a reliable support channel would also be necessary.”
Blehle also raised the issue of costs. “We must avoid further burdening travellers already facing high flight costs to South Africa,” she said.
Onne Vegter, MD of Wild Wings Safaris, warned that applying the ETA to visa-exempt countries would amount to “introducing a visa process to visa-exempt countries”.
Vegter said: “In my opinion, it’s a bad idea. Introducing any kind of administrative obstacle will harm inbound tourism. Apart from confusing travellers and possibly resulting in uninformed tourists being turned away at airports, South Africa is not known for its IT capacity and reliability. ‘The system is down’ is a phrase we hear far too often.”
Lack of clear detail about who will be affected and how the system will work “does not bode well for a smooth and well-communicated rollout”, Vegter said. He also questioned lack of consultation with the private sector.
All respondents agreed that, if the ETA system is only applied to countries that already require visas, it could offer improvements. But clarity, stakeholder engagement and adequate preparation are essential to avoid unintended disruptions.
Stakeholders are calling for transparent timelines, clear definitions of affected markets and proactive engagement by the Department of Home Affairs and SA Tourism. “Regular updates and feedback on progress would be greatly appreciated,” said Blehle.
Frost added: “We stand ready to work with the Department of Home Affairs to ensure the system enhances, rather than hinders, South Africa’s global tourism competitiveness.”
