The Kenyan travel trade has welcomed the possibility that South Africa could relax visa regulations for travellers from selected countries, including Kenya, as currently the visa requirements are a huge deterrent.
South Africa’s Minister of Tourism Derek Hanekom told delegates at Indaba 2018 that the new President, Cyril Ramaphosa, appealed to his minister to attend to ‘regulatory barriers’ such as visas in order to double tourism numbers to the country.
“We have our marching orders from the President himself,” said Minister Hanekom, adding that the ministry has tabled issues that needed urgent attention. “One of these issues is looking at which countries need visas and which countries don’t. It seems to be a bit arbitrary currently. Why does a certain African country not need visas and another African country does need visas. Is there a clear rationale for this?”
Hanekom assured delegates that South Africa is reviewing its visa application rules for various countries. The minister, however, did not give timelines to these possible changes and which countries would benefit.
Patrick Maina Kamanga, MD Deans Travel Centre, told Inside Travel that the current visa requirements, as well as the requirements for travellers under 18 to carry an unabridged birth certificate, have been a huge deterrent.
“We dropped South Africa for some time as a result of the administration to travel with kids. Our clients have started asking us to suggest destinations where they can obtain a visa in one day,” he said.
Kamanga explains that travellers with children incur a lot of costs if they want to travel to South Africa. “In Kenya, it will cost you about $25 per child now. With 4 kids, that’s $100 plus $70 for the visa.
Haider Kurby, Travel Supervisor of Vogue Tours & Travel, added that travellers living in Mombasa need to take into consideration an additional courier fee over and above the visa fees. He said: “Kenyan travellers are now rather opting for Thailand and Dubai. The visa situation has really damaged destination, South Africa.”