South Africa’s Minister for Tourism, Patricia de Lille, has expressed optimism about the potential for growth in various areas for both Nigeria and South Africa if the visa waiver negotiation between the two countries is successfully concluded.
She highlighted the importance of enhancing the tourism industry not only in South Africa but also across the continent, aiming to boost Africa’s image and generate revenue through tourism.
De Lille mentioned that South Africa has offered visa waivers to numerous countries worldwide, including 32 countries in Africa, and is currently in negotiations with Nigeria to secure a visa waiver.
She emphasized her interest in seeing more Nigerians travel to South Africa and shared the positive increase in Nigerian visitors to South Africa in the first quarter of the year.
The Minister expressed her concerns about the delays in visa processing for Nigerians and the ongoing discussions about implementing two different types of visas for business and tourism.
She also extended an invitation to Nigeria to participate in the 2024 edition of Africa’s Travel Indaba, offering the opportunity for Nigeria to showcase its tourist attractions and engage in closer collaboration with South Africa.