Birth certificate rule: Critical voice by Association of Southern African Travel Agents

Despite continuous effort by ASATA (Association of Southern African Travel Agents) and its industry colleagues at SATSA (Southern African Tourism Services Association) and BARSA (Board of Airline Representatives South Africa) to engage, through various means, with the Department of Home Affairs on the implementation of the new regulations concerning unabridged birth certificate requirements and the necessity for inbound tourists to avail themselves of biometric visas, their calls have fallen on deaf ears.

The industry as a collective, has voiced their concerns about how these new regulations will have a negative impact on the South African travel and tourism industry and hence the economy as a whole.

There are more questions surrounding these issues than answers. Although DHA has sent out some guidelines for travellers affected by the new regulations, they are ambiguous and inconsistent and is therefore further indication that there is an urgent need for the department to work with the industry to come up with workable solutions prior to the implementation of new procedures.

CEO of ASATA, Otto de Vries is warning that the industry is expecting chaos from 01 June with serious implications as well as a significant and worrying downturn in family bookings out of and into South Africa as a consequence.