New Zealand is being singled out by South African tourism bosses as a country that will benefit from tough new visa rules brought in by the republic to prevent child trafficking.
The new rules mean minors travelling with both their parents need to carry birth certificates in addition to their passports and there are tougher measure for others.
Under the rules introduced on Monday, those under the age of 18 will also need to have the written consent of one parent when travelling with the other parent.
Those travelling by themselves will need even more documentation and those accompanying minors who aren’t their own children will need a legal letter from their parents.
The move has concerned those in the local tourism industry which is the country’s fastest-growing sector and contributes nine per cent to its GDP.
“Who is going to go to all this trouble to come on holiday to South Africa?” said David Frost, the head of Southern Africa Tourism Services Association.
“They would rather say let’s go to New Zealand, Mauritius or Puerto Rico, where they are more welcome.”
The South African government estimates 30,000 children are trafficked into the country annually.
