Tag Archives: China

Visa Regulation amendments a victory for SA Tourism industry!

imageMore than a year since the introduction of the first onerous Visa Regulations in June last year, an Inter-Ministerial Committee chaired by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced changes to the regulations, tremendous news for the Tourism industry.

The new improved revised Visa regulations: Continue reading →

Responsible usage and sales of alcohol, pleads Western Cape Minister Alan Winde

W Cape wineAt a meeting with the liquor industry in Malmesbury yesterday, Western Cape Minister of Economic Opportunities Alan Winde pleaded for the liquor trade as well as consumers to be responsible in their consumption as well as sales of alcohol.

Being a two-edged sword, the wine industry represents a R30 billion Continue reading →

Visa Regulations: ‘A R2,6 bn mistake’!

imageTourism consultancy Grant Thornton has calculated that the impact of the Visa Regulations, introduced in part in 2014 and in part this year, will cost our economy R2,6 billion and 5800 jobs this year, contrary to the government’s goal of growing the economy and aiding job creation.

The inter-ministerial committee consisting of representatives of the Departments of Tourism and Home Affairs, chaired by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, appears to be close to a ‘compromise‘, but details have not been announced officially by the Department of Home Affairs. The Committee has Continue reading →

International Monetary Fund downscales SA economic growth rate to 1,3% for 2016!

imageThe International Monetary Fund (IMF) has downscaled its forecast for our country’s economy for this year to only 1,4%, down from 2%.

The GDP is expected to only grow by 1,3% next year, forecasts the IMF, the slowest rate of growth since the last recession in 2009. China’s economic slowdown is largely to blame, with metal imports reducing due to that country’s ‘slump‘. Mining jobs are in Continue reading →