In response to my parliamentary questions, Minister Maynier has indicated that since writing in May to the National Government to lobby for the implementation of a Remote Work Visa, his department has not received any response whatsoever. Early this year, Minister Maynier’s Department of Economic Development and Tourism wrote to the then-Tourism Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane and Home Affairs Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, about introducing a Remote Work Visa for international travellers. International best practice shows that this kind of visa encourages long-term stays, supports local economies, and – critically for South Africa – can give the tourism and hospitality sector a must needed boost for the recovery of jobs.
Since reminding the Department of Tourism and its new Minister, Lindiwe Sisulu, of the outstanding response in September, the Department has yet to receive any response to this very practical, and likely lucrative, solution.
MPP Deidré Baartman says: “We are asking ourselves why the President’s cabinet is withholding a very realistic and profitable solution from our tourism sector. I sincerely hope this is not political manoeuvring, simply because the proposal comes from the Western Cape. All provinces stand to benefit.
The greater good of our tourism and hospitality industry needs innovative solutions that will lead to true recovery and sustained growth in the future. Throughout the pandemic, remote working has become the norm across the globe and as more international travellers are combining their love of travel with their work, South Africa should be throwing its doors open to welcome them. We need to see quick responses from National Government when it comes to administrative changes that could see real support for an industry which has lost one million jobs since 2018, and suffered a decline of 70% from international travellers since the start of the pandemic.
We need to protect and claw back our market share as an accessible, affordable international tourist destination. We should be keeping pace with other countries who have taken advantage of Remote Work Visa solutions and put themselves on the map, like Estonia, which has become a hub for digital nomads the world-over.
As the mandate for immigration lies squarely at the feet of National Government, we urge the national Ministers of Tourism and Home Affairs to urgently respond to the proposal from the Western Cape Government. It is time for decisive and quick response from the Union Buildings to support the tourism industry, not only in the Western Cape but across the country.”
