The South African government has come up with measures that would improve India’s travel and tourism relations in a major way. The country wants to upgrade the current e-visa system with an electronic travel arrangement and fast visa processing. The Minister of Tourism of South Africa Patricia de Lille found out that Indian applicants intending to travel through licensed tour operators could obtain visas in a short time – only two to three days.
Current and potential travelers are already aware of the various barriers to travel, and South Africa is actively engaged in the process of changing the face of tourism. The intended electronic travel system suggests eliminating bureaucratic bottlenecks and hence enhancing the attractiveness of the country for Indian travelers. Talks to this effect are still ongoing between South African Airways and competing Indian airlines such as SpiceJet and Indigo which are working on direct flight plans that could see traveling time from major Indian cities to South Africa range between 8-9 instead of the current cumbersome layover hassles.
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Given that South Africa is slated to take over the G20 presidency next year, tourism is being properly placed as one of the major economic growth pillars. Minister de Lille stressed that the nation was determined to adhere to sustainable and inclusive tourism policies in view of powerful countries like India, Brazil, and Indonesia, inter alia. Through enhancing environmental sensitivity as well as community participation, South Africa seeks the use of tourism as a vehicle to foster economic growth and at the same time embrace cultural and environmental values.
