Concessions recommended by the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Immigrations led by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and approved by Cabinet this week are a step in the right direction‚ says the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA). TBCSA was among the stakeholders who participated in a closed briefing session on Friday‚ where the details of the Immigrations IMC’s approved recommendations were outlined‚ prior to the public announcement.Among the recommendations is the adoption of a phased-in approach‚ which will see a number of specific actions being prioritised in the immediate term (1-3 months)‚ short-term (3-12 months) and long-term (12 months and beyond).“We appreciate the work done by the Cabinet Immigrations IMC. Following today’s GCIS stakeholder briefing‚ our own Board sub-committee on Immigrations met to deliberate on the TBCSA response‚” TBCSA CEO Mmatšatši Ramawela said on Friday evening.“Our priority is to address the uncertainty that is currently in the market around the travel requirements for destination South Africa – whether one is travelling for leisure or business - and to restore tourist confidence in our destination. Thus‚ we wish to take time to study the finer details of the Cabinet approved recommendations before we make further pronouncements on this matter.“We do not want to rush into making any statements on the specifics without first reviewing how far the concessions go to address these two concerns or getting clarity on the nuances that may be open to interpretation. Where there are gaps‚ we hope to positively address them through the Tourism Stakeholder Forum that we have recommended for establishment‚” Ramawela said.Ramawela emphasised the need for the immediate establishment of the Tourism Stakeholder Forum. It is envisaged that the forum‚ will be led by the directors-general of the departments of Tourism and Home Affairs and that it will play a critical role in facilitating discussions and collaboration with the Home Affairs Department‚ and the implementation of key actions within the next three months to 12 months.‘Overall‚ as the organisation representing the VOICE of organised business in the travel and tourism sector‚ we view today’s announcement as a step in the right direction and are pleased that the lines of communication with the Department of Home Affairs are open for further engagement and collaboration‚” Ramawela added...