South Africa has established visa facilitation centres in 11 Chinese cities as part of measures to improve the ease of international travel to South Africa.
The new measure is extended to business visitors holding diplomatic, official/services and ordinary passports, who apply for visas to visit South Africa for short-term business purposes.
Tourism Deputy Minister Fish Mahlalela told the virtual International Forum on South Africa-China Cooperation, on August 4, that this was a historic milestone and that the symbiotic relationship between China and South Africa would drive recovery in the tourism sector.
“The tourism industry is of great significance and potential to South Africa and is one of the six key sectors of economic growth. China has always been an important global source market for the tourism of South Africa and is a strategic trade partner to South Africa,” he noted.
A clear horizon for tourism cooperation has been set, Mahlalela added.
“China and South Africa have pledged mutual support for each other’s tourism ventures and we are deepening cooperation on all fronts of human development anchored in the high-level comprehensive strategic partnership signed 23 years ago,” the Minister said.
He reassured delegates of South Africa’s commitment to continually nurture the tourism sector while driving impactful and collaborative strategies and programmes for sustained, inclusive growth.