Introduce electronic visas‚ DA urges

04 May 2016 - 10:16 By TMG Digital

The government should consider implementing electronic visas‚ the Democratic Alliance’s shadow minister of tourism‚ James Vos‚ contended on Tuesday. Speaking during the tourism budget vote in Parliament‚ Vos said where electronic visas had been implemented‚ they had proven to be extremely effective.So it made sense to implement them it in South Africa‚ given the recent visa debacle.“Without fail‚ our government must now consider this method to streamline tourist facilitation to our country.”Vos added that the government should invest in products and infrastructure that would ensure that the country’s tourism landscape remained attractive.“Some of these investments must be directed to niche sectors with high growth potential‚ like the cruise industry‚ which also generates significant spillover economic benefits for ground handling services‚ bunkering‚ and ship repair‚” he suggested.“Given the job losses in the mining and manufacturing sectors‚ we need tourism to keep South Africans working. “It is only through job creation and robust economic growth that we will unlock opportunities for all South Africans and give life to the freedoms on which our democracy is based‚” Vos added...

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