Drop in airline ticket sales prove visa regulations must go
The latest figures provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) – a global organisation which aims to drive a profitable air transport industry - provide further proof of the devastating impact the new visa regulations are having on the South African economy.
According to these figures, ticketing stats show a marked 26% decline in year-on-year air ticketing revenue for tickets purchased to South Africa in June 2015.
The total revenue for all air ticketing sales to SA dropped by 40% for June 2015 compared with June 2014.
The Democratic Alliance has submitted various motions calling for the suspension of these draconian travel regulations and to have them replaced with biometrics on arrival or electronic visas. These systems have proved to be very effective and safe in the countries in which they are in operation.
Sadly our attempts have fallen on deaf ears. This despite the fact that the impact of the new visa regulations on the South African economy in 2014 was a negative R2.6bn and the loss of more than 5 800 jobs, according to an impact assessment report by Grant Thornton, commissioned by the Tourism Business Council of South Africa.