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Unabridged birth certificate: Local travel industry 'expecting chaos'

Cape Town - The Association of Southern African Travel Agents (ASATA), along with its industry counterparts at the Southern African Tourism Services Association (SATSA) and Board of Airline Representatives South Africa (BARSA), have voiced their concerns about the negative impact the new visa rules will have on the industry as a whole.

In a statement released on Wednesday, ASATA CEO Otto de Vries warned that they are expecting chaos from 1 June, when the unabridged birth certificate rule kicks in.

De Vries said the three associations have tried, through various means, to engage with the department of home affairs on the implementation of the new regulations concerning unabridged birth certificate requirements and the necessity for inbound tourists to appear in person for the submission of biometric data.

"Our calls seem to have fallen on deaf ears," said De Vries.

READ: International airlines brace for SA's new travelling with minors rule

He said that it will "no doubt have serious implications, among others, a significant and worrying downturn in family bookings out of and into South Africa".

Otto added that despite the department of home affairs releasing a brochure of guidelines for travellers regarding the new rules, the associations felt there were still more questions surrounding the visa issues than answers. 

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