South Africa has lost about R1.6-billion in direct spending from overseas tourists – the worst decline in more than two decades – according to a report by accounting company Grant Thornton. The company based its findings on tourist figures from the first three months of this year. The drop in tourism follows new legislation that demands tourists must apply in person at South African embassies abroad as well as have their biometric data captured before being granted a visa.

Parents travelling in or out of the country with children who are 17 or younger must produce an unabridged birth certificate showing both parents’ details. The visa section of the act came into effect in October while the unabridged birth legislation came into effect last month. Tourism experts have slammed the regulations as potentially crippling to the economy.

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