Sun International says SA is scoring 'own goal' with overly complex visa regime

Sun International says SA is "scoring a couple of own goals" if it does not simplify its visa regime for foreign visitors.

Graham Wood, COO of the company, which owns Sun City along with other top hotels and casinos, said on Wednesday if SA allowed visas on entry - instead of forcing potential visitors to have to apply for them in their home countries - there was potential for the "floodgate to open".

Wood, who was speaking at a panel discussion on the sidelines of the annual conference of the Global Hotel Alliance in Cape Town, said a couple of things needed to be addressed immediately in SA to boost tourism, including making it a priority industry, improving airlift to both Johannesburg and Cape Town, and amendments to the visa system.