Gunship
21st Jan 2006, 06:00
Again I think we should stop to worry about so called "first world countries" problems ... :E
Cape Town - A new requirement for transit visas for travellers from India passing through South Africa, which is believed to be part of the international fight against terrorism, had caused SAA to lose passengers, an industry source said yesterday.
The source said that until the requirement was introduced, large numbers of Indian business people had travelled to S‹o Paulo in Brazil with SAA because it was the most convenient route, changing planes in Johannesburg. Some also went to neighbouring countries in southern Africa by way of Johannesburg.
Now, because of difficulties and delays in obtaining the visa, some were travelling with Kenya Airways or Middle Eastern airlines instead.
Requests for comment from the department of home affairs were unsuccessful.
The transit visa requirement was introduced after a suspect sought in connection with the London Tube bombings was arrested in Zambia.
Barry Hirter, the managing director of ERM Travel, which specialises in bringing tourists from Asia, said the requirements did not affect the growing tourism market from India. "They affect people who don't stop here."
Both Hirter and Colin Napier, the chief executive of Crown Travel, said earlier this week that hotels and airlines that charged Chinese tourists more at this time of year - their most popular time for travel, when they celebrate the Chinese new year - were encouraging them to go to Europe or Australia instead.
But hotel executives said they had responded to requests from SA Tourism to encourage cost-conscious Asian visitors to come here all year round by offering them low rates, except in high season, when demand from European and local holiday makers soared.
Neil Fraser, the sales and marketing director of Southern Sun, said: "We have a special rate for [Asian visitors] at other times of the year. But 80 percent of our guests are domestic holiday makers or business travellers.
"It would not make sense to turn away higher-paying guests at the height of the season to fill our rooms with others paying a lower special rate."
Business Report (http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=566&fArticleId=3074518)
Cape Town - A new requirement for transit visas for travellers from India passing through South Africa, which is believed to be part of the international fight against terrorism, had caused SAA to lose passengers, an industry source said yesterday.
The source said that until the requirement was introduced, large numbers of Indian business people had travelled to S‹o Paulo in Brazil with SAA because it was the most convenient route, changing planes in Johannesburg. Some also went to neighbouring countries in southern Africa by way of Johannesburg.
Now, because of difficulties and delays in obtaining the visa, some were travelling with Kenya Airways or Middle Eastern airlines instead.
Requests for comment from the department of home affairs were unsuccessful.
The transit visa requirement was introduced after a suspect sought in connection with the London Tube bombings was arrested in Zambia.
Barry Hirter, the managing director of ERM Travel, which specialises in bringing tourists from Asia, said the requirements did not affect the growing tourism market from India. "They affect people who don't stop here."
Both Hirter and Colin Napier, the chief executive of Crown Travel, said earlier this week that hotels and airlines that charged Chinese tourists more at this time of year - their most popular time for travel, when they celebrate the Chinese new year - were encouraging them to go to Europe or Australia instead.
But hotel executives said they had responded to requests from SA Tourism to encourage cost-conscious Asian visitors to come here all year round by offering them low rates, except in high season, when demand from European and local holiday makers soared.
Neil Fraser, the sales and marketing director of Southern Sun, said: "We have a special rate for [Asian visitors] at other times of the year. But 80 percent of our guests are domestic holiday makers or business travellers.
"It would not make sense to turn away higher-paying guests at the height of the season to fill our rooms with others paying a lower special rate."
Business Report (http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=566&fArticleId=3074518)