De Lille: Cutting visa red tap will unlock further African tourism
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille has called for the urgent cutting of the visa red tape across Africa.
She told delegates at the opening of the Africa's Travel Indaba in Durban on Tuesday this will help unlock further tourism potential on the continent and make trade more attractive.
"We must have a harmonised visa regime across the continent and make it easier for visitors to move from country to country.
"So the visa problem is not just a South African one, it's an African one and as ministers of tourism, we are going to work together to address the issue of visa. We must simplify the e-visa application process and also reduce the costs of visas."
READ: Dube-Ncube: KZN tourism injected R2.5bn over festive season
eThekwini Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda also addressed the Indaba, selling a picture of a city that is getting back on its feet.
"For the entire year, the city has projected a 2.9 million domestic visitors and 184 639 international visitors. This indicates that we are indeed on the road to recovery."
Kaunda has admitted crime is among several challenges that continue to plague the city.
"The city is implementing tough safety measures to increase safety throughout the city, especially in tourism destinations and all other public centres.
"Part of the interventions we are putting in place include recruitment of 400 metro police officers on an annual basis and partnering community crime-fighting structures and business forums because fighting crime requires an all society approach."
