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African states urged to review visa regimes, airfares

Cutting red tape: Thamane says bureaucracy is overburdening youth enterprise
Cutting red tape: Thamane says bureaucracy is overburdening youth enterprise

DURBAN: Unfavourable visa conditions and the ever-rising cost of air travel remain the biggest limitation to the growth of the tourism industry in Africa and there is a need to counter the trend as a matter of urgency.

The call was made this week by South African Minister of Tourism Patricia De Lille when officially opening the Africa Travel Indaba here on Tuesday. This year’s Indaba, which ended on Thursday (yesterday) had more than 350 tourism products showcased and featured 1,000 buyers from the global tourism ecosystem as well as just under 1,000 exhibitors.

Most notably, the attendees included destination marketing bodies, hotel groups, airlines, tour operators, and 10 African tourism boards from 21 African countries, including the Botswana Tourism Organisation.

Editor's Comment
Micro-procurement maze demands urgent reform

Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...

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