Introducing electronic visas across Africa would boost tourism to, and within, Africa, Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said on Sunday.<\/p>\n
“The bureaucracy and costs involved in applying for and issuing visas are a major impediment to foreigners wishing to visit our shores and to our own people to travel on our continent,” Van Schalkwyk said, according to a copy of a speech delivered at the Routes Africa conference in the Seychelles.<\/p>\n
He said technology would help in developing high security measures while creating efficient travelling. There were also numerous opportunities to accelerate the creation of regional visa schemes.<\/p>\n
“This would allow our international visitors and intra-African travellers to move more freely and efficiently, to the benefit of our continent.”<\/p>\n
He said currently African destinations were dependent on air arrivals from economically hard-pressed traditional markets overseas.<\/p>\n
“Many of these airline hubs on which we depend tax our international travellers like cash cows… let’s rather unlock the potential of airlift on our continent,” he said.<\/p>\n
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