The Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa (FEDHASA) has expressed its enthusiasm following the progressive visa reforms announced by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) last week, i.e. the Remote Work Visitor Visa and the new Points-Based System for Work Visas.
Positive outlook for hospitality and tourism
FEDHASA expects the new Remote Work Visitor Visa and also the Points-Based System for Work Visas gazetted on 09 October 2024, to bring significant benefits for the hospitality and tourism industries by attracting valuable skills, investment, and boosting tourism.
Markedly, these reforms are expected to bring an influx of long-term visitors who will contribute substantially to local economies.
The Remote Work Visa
The Remote Work Visa allows well-paid individuals working for foreign companies to spend their money in South Africa.
“Remote workers and digital nomads are like long-term tourists. They’ll be staying in our guesthouses, dining in our restaurants … This sustained economic activity is exactly what our industry needs to thrive and create more jobs.”
Rosemary Anderson, National Chairperson of FEDHASA
A major benefit of remote workers and digital nomads is that they are employed abroad. This means that they do not compete with local workers. They do, however, bring foreign currency into the country which benefits various businesses and essentially the economy.
The Points-Based System for Work Visas
The Points-Based System for Work Visas is a transparent system that objectively evaluates applicants for Critical Skills and General Work Visas. This addresses past inefficiencies and promotes fairness. This efficient method will help attract important skills to South Africa, which will be great for many industries.
‘These reforms demonstrate a commitment to modernising South Africa’s immigration policies and creating a welcoming environment for skilled individuals,’ added Anderson. ‘We are confident that these changes will stimulate economic growth, generate employment opportunities, and enhance South Africa’s global competitiveness in the tourism market.’
Cape Town mayor also positive
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has welcomed these developments. He said, ‘We warmly welcome these major visa reforms and the exciting economic and job-creating potential to bring substantially more tourism to our shores’. The mayor congratulated Schreiber’s swift action in these reforms.
He added that ‘Cape Town is an ideal remote working destination’. Additionally, he pointed out that people will now be able to stay longer in Cape Town. This means that they will spend more money here to the benefit of local businesses.
How long do you think it will take for the impacts of these visa reforms to show?
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